What does "gopher" mean?
A small burrowing rodent native to North and Central America, especially in the family Geomyidae (pocket gophers).
Gopher
/ˈɡoʊfɚ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A small burrowing rodent native to North and Central America, especially in the family Geomyidae (pocket gophers).
- Grammar: gopher is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: pocket gopher, aide, animal, antelope.
- Useful contrasts: nonburrowing animal, self-starter, web.
- Usage evidence: Can you see the gopher? No? Neither can I. But it's there!
How to use "gopher"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gopher" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "gopher" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "gopher" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "gopher" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "gopher" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "pocket gopher" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "gopher", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A small burrowing rodent native to North and Central America, especially in the family Geomyidae (pocket gophers).
- 2 Alternative spelling of gofer. alt-of, alternative
"Crackpot Texan oil magnate Felix Happer (Burt Lancaster) gets the idea that a small Scottish fishing village would be a marvellous acquisition for his so-rich-it-makes-you-sick company, Knox Oil and Gas, so he sends an executive gopher named MacIntyre (because that sounds Scottish, yeah – played by Peter Riegert) to close the deal and get the pipeline pencilled in."
- 3 burrowing edible land tortoise of southeastern North America wordnet
- 4 A ground squirrel (Marmotinae spp.).
- 5 burrowing rodent of the family Geomyidae having large external cheek pouches; of Central America and southwestern North America wordnet
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A gopher tortoise (Gopherus spp.).
- 7 any of various terrestrial burrowing rodents of Old and New Worlds; often destroy crops wordnet
- 8 A gopher rockfish (Sebastes carnatus).
- 9 a native or resident of Minnesota wordnet
- 10 A Golang programmer.
- 11 a zealously energetic person (especially a salesman) wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 An Internet protocol for document search and retrieval. Internet, historical
Antonyms
Example
"Can you see the gopher? No? Neither can I. But it's there!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gopher"?
Common synonyms include: pocket gopher, aide, animal, antelope, armadillo, assistant.
How do you use "gopher" in a sentence?
Can you see the gopher? No? Neither can I. But it's there!
How do you pronounce "gopher"?
Pronounced /ˈɡoʊfɚ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Perhaps an adaptation of Cajun French gaufre (literally “honeycomb, waffle”), based on the analogy of holes in the ground to the indentations in a honeycomb or a waffle (doublet of waffle). Alternatively, from Muskogean.
Etymology 2
From the gopher, mascot of the University of Minnesota, where the Gopher protocol was developed.