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Definition of black rat

black rat

Plural:black rats
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• 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 rat

Word 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

black pine snake
black racer
black radish
black rat
black rat snake
black rhinoceros
black river

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 Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/black-rat
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