How Do You Spell VARMINTS?

Pronunciation: [vˈɑːmɪnts] (IPA)

The word "varmints" (/'vɑːmɪnts/) is a plural noun commonly used to refer to small animals or pests, such as rodents, snakes, or insects. The spelling of "varmints" is derived from a dialectal variation of the word "vermin." The "v" sound at the beginning of the word is followed by the "ar" diphthong, pronounced as /ɑːr/. The vowel in the second syllable is an "i" sound /ɪ/, and the word ends with the nasal consonant /nts/.

VARMINTS Meaning and Definition

  1. Varmints, typically used in colloquial American English, refers to small or pesky animals that are often considered pests due to their disruptive or harmful behavior. The term is especially prevalent in rural or agricultural areas where encounters with such animals are more frequent.

    Varmints commonly include creatures such as rodents (e.g., rats, mice), raccoons, skunks, possums, squirrels, and other small mammals that invade homes, gardens, or farmlands, causing damage to property or crops. These animals may exhibit behaviors such as burrowing, digging, chewing wires or structures, or stealing food, which can be highly inconvenient or destructive. Additionally, varmints often carry diseases or parasites that can pose health risks to humans or pets.

    The term varmints can also encompass certain predatory animals, such as foxes or coyotes, that are considered nuisances due to their threat to livestock or poultry. Controlling varmints is often necessary to protect crops, safeguard property, or promote public health.

    In popular culture, varmints are sometimes portrayed as mischievous or cunning, becoming the subjects of entertainment in cartoon shows, movies, or literature. Nonetheless, outside of fictional contexts, the term commonly refers to animals that are generally unwanted due to their negative impact on human activities or the environment.

Top Common Misspellings for VARMINTS *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for VARMINTS

Etymology of VARMINTS

The word "varmint" originated in early 16th century England. It is derived from the Middle English word "vermint", which was borrowed from the Old French word "vermine", meaning "small wild animals". The Old French term was further derived from the Latin word "vermina", which referred to various creeping or crawling creatures such as worms, insects, or small mammals. Over time, "vermint" began to be spelled and pronounced as "varmint" in the English language, and the term became associated specifically with small, troublesome animals, especially those perceived as pests or nuisances.

Similar spelling words for VARMINTS

Infographic

Add the infographic to your website: