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Definition of gopher snake

gopher snake

Plural:gopher snakes
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gopher snake Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A large, non-venomous constricting snake of the genus Pituophis, native to North America, characterized by a heavily blotched pattern and highly beneficial for controlling agricultural rodent populations.

Example

"The farmer was happy to find a gopher snake in the barn, knowing it would help keep the local mice and rat populations in check."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gopher snake

Word Nuance & Usage

Often mistaken for the venomous rattlesnake due to its similar blotched coloration and defensive behavior of flattening its head and vibrating its tail in dry brush.

• Nearby Words

gooseberry
goosefish
gopher
gopher snake
gopher tortoise
goral
gordita

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in American English for its primary diet, which consists largely of pocket gophers and other small rodents.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gopher snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gopher snake
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