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Definition of black rat
black rat
Plural:black rats
• noun
1
A medium-sized, long-tailed rodent (Rattus rattus) originally native to the Indian subcontinent but now found globally; it is an agile climber often associated with ships and historically known as a primary carrier of the fleas that transmit bubonic plague.
Example
"Due to its exceptional climbing abilities, the black rat frequently builds its nests in the rafters and upper levels of buildings."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for black ratWord Nuance & Usage
The black rat is frequently contrasted with the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus); while brown rats typically burrow and dwell in sewers or ground levels, black rats are agile climbers that prefer elevated nesting areas like roofs or attics.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Black rat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/black%20rat