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Definition of rugrat

rugrat

/ˈrʌɡˌræt/
rug · rat
Plural:rugrats
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rugrat Lexical Profile

rugrat Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A baby, toddler, or very young child, especially one who crawls or plays on the floor (used informally and often affectionately).

Example

"By the end of the family reunion, half a dozen noisy rugrats were chasing each other around the living room."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

ruggedness
rugger
rugosa rose
rugrat
ruhr
ruin
ruination

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in American slang during the late 1960s (originally among U.S. military personnel and Citizen's Band radio operators), the compound humorously compares a crawling infant or toddler to a small rodent scurrying across a household rug.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rugrat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rugrat
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