meerkat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, but more common in informal, natural history, and educational contexts.
Quick answer
What does “meerkat” mean?
A small, gregarious carnivorous mongoose (Suricata suricatta), native to arid regions of southern Africa, characterised by a slender body, a pointed snout, and a habit of standing upright on its hind legs to watch for predators.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, gregarious carnivorous mongoose (Suricata suricatta), native to arid regions of southern Africa, characterised by a slender body, a pointed snout, and a habit of standing upright on its hind legs to watch for predators.
The term is also used metaphorically to describe someone or something in a watchful, vigilant, or highly social posture or situation. It is a common animal in zoos and popularised globally by nature documentaries and the character 'Timon' in Disney's 'The Lion King'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The word is identical in spelling and meaning. It might be slightly more familiar to UK audiences due to longstanding nature programming by the BBC.
Connotations
Identical: evokes images of African savannas, cuteness, social behaviour, and vigilance.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; equally understood due to global nature media.
Grammar
How to Use “meerkat” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] meerkat [VERBed] [PREP] the [NOUN].A [NOUN] of meerkats [VERB].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meerkat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scout meerkatted from the mound, scanning for eagles.
- (Very rare, non-standard; used playfully).
American English
- He meerkatted up from his cubicle when he heard the boss. (Humorous, informal)
adverb
British English
- He peered meerkat-ily over the fence. (Highly informal, jocular)
American English
- She looked around meerkat-style. (Informal compound adverb)
adjective
British English
- The team adopted a meerkat-like vigilance during the project. (Compound adjective)
- Her meerkat alertness was impressive.
American English
- He had a meerkat intensity about him when searching for the file.
- The meerkat posture of the guard was unmistakable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used metaphorically in team-building contexts ('We need meerkat-like vigilance in market monitoring').
Academic
Common in biology, zoology, ethology, and conservation texts.
Everyday
Common in conversation about animals, nature documentaries, or zoos.
Technical
Standard term in zoological taxonomy and wildlife research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meerkat”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meerkat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meerkat”
- Misspelling: 'meercat', 'mearkat'.
- Mispronunciation: /miːrkæt/ (incorrect long 'ee').
- Confusing it with a prairie dog or ground squirrel.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, a meerkat is not a primate. It is a member of the mongoose family (Herpestidae), which are carnivorous mammals.
They are not closely related. Meerkats are mongooses from Africa, while prairie dogs are rodents from North America. They exhibit convergent evolution in their social structures and upright postures.
Their highly social, family-oriented behaviour, human-like upright posture, and expressive faces make them very appealing to audiences. They were heavily popularised by the long-running BBC series 'Meerkat Manor' and the character Timon.
In most places, it is illegal and highly inadvisable. Meerkats are wild animals with complex social and environmental needs that cannot be met in a typical home. They can be aggressive and carry diseases.
A small, gregarious carnivorous mongoose (Suricata suricatta), native to arid regions of southern Africa, characterised by a slender body, a pointed snout, and a habit of standing upright on its hind legs to watch for predators.
Meerkat is usually neutral, but more common in informal, natural history, and educational contexts. in register.
Meerkat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪəkat/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪrkat/ˌ/ˈmɪrkæt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to stand like a meerkat (to stand up straight and look around alertly)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MEER' sounds like 'mirror' – imagine a meerkat looking in a mirror while standing upright. 'KAT' sounds like 'cat' – it's a small mammal, but not a cat.
Conceptual Metaphor
VIGILANCE IS STANDING UPRIGHT; COMMUNITY IS A MOB.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason a meerkat stands upright on its hind legs?