Search Dictionary
Definition of yellow rat snake
yellow rat snake
Plural:yellow rat snakes
yellow rat snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A large, non-venomous constrictor snake native to the southeastern United States, characterized by its yellowish or olive body with four dark longitudinal stripes, commonly found in forests and agricultural areas where it hunts rodents.
Example
"The farmer was pleased to find a yellow rat snake in the barn, as the reptile naturally helped keep the local rodent population under control."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from its physical appearance (yellowish coloration), its primary diet (rats and other small rodents), and its biological classification (snake). It is traditionally classified as a subspecies of the eastern rat snake.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Yellow rat snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/yellow rat snake