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Definition of king snake
king snake
Plural:king snakes
king snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American Any of various non-venomous constrictor snakes of the genus Lampropeltis, native to North and Central America, characterized by their bold color patterns and a diet that notably includes other snakes.
Example
"The California king snake is a popular reptile for enthusiasts due to its docile nature and striking bands of black and white."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for king snake• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name 'king' refers to the snake's habit of hunting and consuming other snakes, including venomous species, to which it possesses a natural immunity.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of King snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/king snake