guinea pig: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, semi-technical
Quick answer
What does “guinea pig” mean?
A small, tailless rodent, often kept as a pet or used in scientific experiments.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, tailless rodent, often kept as a pet or used in scientific experiments.
A person or thing used as a subject for experiment or testing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'guinea pig' is consistent. No major usage differences; the metaphorical sense is equally common.
Connotations
In both varieties, the animal connotes cuteness as a pet and vulnerability/subjection in its metaphorical sense.
Frequency
The metaphorical sense is highly frequent in both varieties, especially in journalism and informal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “guinea pig” in a Sentence
[Subject] + to be + a guinea pig[Agent] + to use + [Patient] + as + a guinea pig[Patient] + to act as + a guinea pig + for + [Experiment]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guinea pig” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new policy was guinea-pigged on the Manchester office first.
- I'm not keen to guinea-pig that app.
American English
- They guinea-pigged the prototype on our department.
- She volunteered to guinea-pig the new training module.
adjective
British English
- He had a guinea-pig role in the clinical trial.
- It was a classic guinea-pig situation.
American English
- She felt like a guinea-pig participant.
- They set up a guinea-pig test group.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Our team will be the guinea pigs for the new project management software rollout.
Academic
The study used university students as guinea pigs for the behavioural psychology experiment.
Everyday
I don't want to be your guinea pig for that dubious homemade recipe!
Technical
The Cavia porcellus, commonly known as the guinea pig, remains a staple model organism in immunology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guinea pig”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guinea pig”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guinea pig”
- Incorrect plural: 'guinea pigs' (not 'guineas pig').
- Confusing with 'ginny pig' or 'ginea pig'.
- Using the article incorrectly: 'He was a guinea pig' (correct), not 'He was guinea pig'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the origin of the name is uncertain. They are domesticated rodents from South America. The 'Guinea' may be a corruption of 'Guiana' or a reference to the Guinea coin (their cost).
It can be, depending on context. It implies they are being experimented on, potentially without full consent or consideration. It's often used critically about perceived unethical testing.
Both are used metaphorically for test subjects. 'Lab rat' can sound more clinical, dehumanizing, or specific to repetitive lab work. 'Guinea pig' is slightly more common for human contexts, especially informal ones.
Yes, informally (e.g., 'to guinea-pig something'). It means to test or try something new on someone or something. It's more common in spoken than formal written English.
A small, tailless rodent, often kept as a pet or used in scientific experiments.
Guinea pig is usually informal, semi-technical in register.
Guinea pig: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪni pɪɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪni pɪɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to feel like a guinea pig”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pig from Guinea (West Africa) being used in a lab. The name is misleading (they are rodents from South America), but the image sticks for the metaphorical meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE ANIMALS / SUBJECTS ARE PASSIVE RECIPIENTS
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of calling someone a 'guinea pig' in a non-literal context?