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Definition of hognose snake

hognose snake

Plural:hognose snakes
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• noun

1

Any of several stout-bodied colubrid snakes (notably of the North American genus Heterodon), characterized by an upturned, pig-like snout used for burrowing in sandy soils and famous for defensive displays that include flattening the neck, hissing, and ultimately feigning death.

Example

"While exploring the sandy pine barrens, the biologist spotted an eastern hognose snake using its specialized snout to unearth a toad."

Word Nuance & Usage

Often mistaken by laypeople for highly venomous adders or cobras because they defensively flatten their necks and hiss loudly, though they are mostly harmless to humans.

• Nearby Words

hoggishness
hoglet
hoglike
hognose snake
hognose viper
hogtie
hogwash

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hognose snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hognose-snake
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