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Definition of water snake

water snake

Plural:water snakes
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• noun

1

Any of various nonvenomous or mildly venomous colubrid snakes that are highly adapted to an aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyle, typically found in or near freshwater lakes, streams, and marshes.

Example

"As the canoe drifted silently near the reeds, we spotted a brown water snake sliding off a log into the shallow river."

2

North American A large, heavily bodied, nonvenomous semi-aquatic snake belonging to the genus Nerodia, native to North America and known for its aggressive defensive behavior when threatened.

Example

"The common northern water snake is frequently misidentified as a venomous cottonmouth due to its similar dark banding and habitat preferences."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for water snake

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'water snake' strictly refers to nonvenomous semi-aquatic snakes (such as those of the genus Nerodia), it is frequently confused in everyday speech with the venomous water moccasin (cottonmouth).

• Nearby Words

water ski
water skiing
water skink
water snake
water spinach
waterbed
waterbird

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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