cottontail
noun
cot·ton·tail
ˈkä-tᵊn-ËŒtÄl 
: any of several rather small North American rabbits (genus Sylvilagus) sandy to grayish brown in color with a white-tufted underside of the tail
Examples of cottontail in a Sentence
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Though the cottontail’s feet are completely covered with fur, the four toes visible on each foot and the bounding pattern of their gait are easily recognizable.
—
Susan Koch, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Swamp rabbits are the largest of the cottontail genus, reaching up to 22 inches long.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 2025
The cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) makes rabbits grow real horns made of keratin, mostly on their heads but sometimes on their faces.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
At Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, trails wind through salt marshes, shrublands, and forests teeming with migrating birds—from sandpipers and plovers to herons and owls—as well as the occasional New England cottontail rabbit.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
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Susan Koch, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Swamp rabbits are the largest of the cottontail genus, reaching up to 22 inches long.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 2025
The cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) makes rabbits grow real horns made of keratin, mostly on their heads but sometimes on their faces.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
At Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, trails wind through salt marshes, shrublands, and forests teeming with migrating birds—from sandpipers and plovers to herons and owls—as well as the occasional New England cottontail rabbit.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cottontail
Cite this Entry
“Cottontail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottontail. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cottontail
noun
cot·ton·tail
ˈkät-ᵊn-ËŒtÄl
: any of several small brownish gray rabbits with a fluffy tail that is white on the underside
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