groundhog

IPA/ˈɡraʊndhɒɡ/
KK[ɡrˈaʊndhˌɑɡ]IPA/ˈɡraʊndhɑːɡ/

groundhog — noun

  • groundhogsingular
  • groundhogsplural

1. a medium-sized brown rodent with a short tail and strong claws, found in North A

1.nounB1
Definition

a medium-sized brown rodent with a short tail and strong claws, found in North America, that lives in a hole it digs in the ground and sleeps through the winter.

Example

A groundhog came out of its hole and sniffed the cool morning air.

come out of its hole — typical spring behaviour

The old groundhog waddled slowly across the dirt road near the farm.

Common collocations
  • groundhog + digs a burrow
  • groundhog + hibernates
  • fat groundhog
  • furry groundhog
  • spot a groundhog
Synonyms
  • woodchuck

    exactly the same animal; 'woodchuck' is the older, more traditional name used in rural areas, while 'groundhog' is used in the Groundhog Day context

  • marmot

    broader category that includes groundhogs plus other similar animals found in Europe, Asia, and North America

Usage Note

In Canada and the northern United States, this animal is also called a 'woodchuck'.

Common Mistakes

A groundhog is a type of squirrel.
A groundhog belongs to the squirrel family, but it is a type of marmot.
'marmot' is the more precise biological category.

2. the animal that is the main character in a North American tradition on February

2.nounB2
Definition

the animal that is the main character in a North American tradition on February 2nd: people believe that if the groundhog comes out of its hole and sees its shadow after a sunny morning, winter will continue for six more weeks; but if the sky is cloudy and it does not see its shadow, spring will come early.

Example

On Groundhog Day, people in Pennsylvania gather to watch the ceremony.

Groundhog Day — annual February 2nd tradition

The groundhog did not see its shadow this year, so spring should arrive early.

see its shadow — key prediction outcome

Common collocations
  • Groundhog Day
  • groundhog + predicts
  • groundhog + sees its shadow
  • watch the groundhog

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 describes the animal within the cultural tradition of Groundhog Day, not the animal itself. The tradition is mainly observed in the United States and Canada. The phrase 'Groundhog Day' is also used to describe any situation that keeps repeating in exactly the same way.

Common Mistakes

Groundhog Day is on February 1st.
Groundhog Day is on February 2nd.
the date is February 2, not the 1st or any other day.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Groundhog', 'woodchuck', 'marmot', and 'whistle pig' all refer to the same animal (Marmota monax) but differ in how they are used. 'Groundhog' is the most common name in modern English, especially in the context of Groundhog Day. 'Woodchuck' is an older name from rural American English, derived from the Algonquian word 'wuchak'. 'Marmot' is the scientific category — it covers the whole genus, which includes groundhogs as well as closely related animals living in mountains across Europe and Asia. 'Whistle pig' is a colloquial nickname used in some parts of the United States, based on the high-pitched sound the animal makes when danger is near. In everyday conversation, if you say 'groundhog', most English speakers will picture the animal and the February tradition. If you say 'woodchuck', listeners may think of the tongue-twister 'How much wood would a woodchuck chuck?'

woodchuck ↗marmot ↗whistle pig

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Groundhog Day
  • groundhog hole
  • groundhog season

Phrases

  • come out of its hole
  • see its shadow
  • predict the weather

Prepositions

  • on Groundhog Day
  • in a burrow
  • near a field

Etymology

EnglishEnglish (North American)English compound of ground + hog

The word 'groundhog' is a simple compound of 'ground' (the earth or soil) and 'hog' (a pig), created in early 19th-century North America. The 'hog' part refers to the animal's pig-like body shape and the grunting sounds it makes. The older name 'woodchuck' comes from the Algonquian (Native American) word 'wuchak', which means 'digger' — early English settlers adapted the sound into the familiar name.