suricate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequencyTechnical/Zoological, sometimes in general nature writing.
Quick answer
What does “suricate” mean?
A small, gregarious African mongoose (Suricata suricatta), also known as a meerkat, characterized by upright posture and social colonies.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, gregarious African mongoose (Suricata suricatta), also known as a meerkat, characterized by upright posture and social colonies.
The term refers specifically to the species and can be used in zoological contexts; in broader culture, it is synonymous with the more common name 'meerkat' and evokes imagery of cooperative animal groups and vigilant sentinel behavior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use 'meerkat' as the dominant term. 'Suricate' is equally rare in both, but might appear slightly more in British nature documentaries or older zoological texts.
Connotations
Technical, precise, slightly old-fashioned or academic.
Frequency
Extremely low in everyday language. Almost entirely confined to zoology, wildlife documentation, and crossword puzzles.
Grammar
How to Use “suricate” in a Sentence
The [adjective] suricate [verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in zoological papers and taxonomy: 'The foraging efficiency of the suricate was studied.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation; 'meerkat' is universal.
Technical
The preferred term in precise taxonomic classification and some scientific contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “suricate”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “suricate”
- Confusing it with other mongoose species.
- Using 'suricate' in casual conversation where 'meerkat' is expected.
- Misspelling as 'suricata' (which is the genus name).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the exact same animal (Suricata suricatta). 'Meerkat' is the common name; 'suricate' is a more technical or alternative name.
It derives from the French 'suricate', which in turn came from a Dutch (or possibly Slavic) word, ultimately from an indigenous South African language. The scientific genus name is 'Suricata'.
Use 'suricate' only in very formal zoological, taxonomic, or academic writing. In all other contexts (everyday conversation, general articles, documentaries), 'meerkat' is the correct and expected term.
No, despite 'meerkat' containing 'cat', they are not felines. They are members of the mongoose family (Herpestidae), which is part of the order Carnivora.
A small, gregarious African mongoose (Suricata suricatta), also known as a meerkat, characterized by upright posture and social colonies.
Suricate is usually technical/zoological, sometimes in general nature writing. in register.
Suricate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsjʊərɪkət/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʊrɪˌkeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SURe, I CATegorize it as a meerkat.' The 'suri-' sounds like 'sure' and '-cate' like the end of 'delicate' or 'duplicate'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SENTINEL (due to its upright, watchful posture).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'suricate'?