# raccoon

/ɹæˈkun/ (US) · /ɹækˈuːn/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/raccoon
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a medium-sized animal from North America with gray fur, a long tail with black rings, and black fur around its eyes that looks like a mask.

For teachers: a nocturnal, omnivorous mammal of the genus Procyon, native to North America and characterized by a ringed tail and a black mask-like facial pattern.

## Examples

- A raccoon climbed into the garden last night.
- The local residents had to buy heavy-duty trash cans to stop the raccoons from scattering garbage across the street.
- Known for their dexterity and problem-solving abilities, raccoons have successfully adapted to urban environments by exploiting human food sources and finding shelter in residential structures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.