gopher

¹ American  

[goh-fer] / ˈgoʊ fər /

noun

1. any of several ground squirrels of the genus Citellus, of the prairie regions of North America.

2. pocket gopher.

3. gopher tortoise.

4. gopher snake.

5. Gopher, a native or inhabitant of Minnesota (used as a nickname).

6. Computers. Gopher,

   1. a protocol for a menu-based system of accessing documents on the internet.

   2. any program that implements this protocol.

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verb (used without object)

1. Mining.

   1. to mine unsystematically.

   2. to enlarge a hole, as in loose soil, with successively larger blasts.

gopher ² American  

[goh-fer] / ˈgoʊ fər /

noun

Slang.

1. gofer.

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gopher British  

/ ˈɡəʊfə /

noun

1. Also called: pocket gopher.  any burrowing rodent of the family Geomyidae, of North and Central America, having a thickset body, short legs, and cheek pouches

2. another name for ground squirrel

3. any burrowing tortoise of the genus Gopherus, of SE North America

4. another name for bull snake

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Usage

What does gopher mean? A gopher is a small rodent native to North and Central America that burrows tunnels and has large cheek pouches, as in I saw a gopher digging a burrow by the road. The term gopher is commonly used to refer to pocket gophers, burrowing rodents of the Geomyidae family. Gophers are well-known for their ability to dig underground burrows, where they spend most of their time. Gophers are solitary herbivores, feeding on plant roots. Because their digging can damage property and their feeding can damage gardens, gophers are often considered pests. Gophers are often associated with the state of Minnesota and the term is often used as a nickname for people who live there. Less commonly, gopher can also refer to several species of ground squirrels, gopher tortoises, or gopher snakes. Example: We are trying to keep the gophers from eating our flower garden.

Etymology

Origin of gopher¹

First recorded in 1785–95; earlier megopher, magopher “gopher tortoise”; of obscure origin; spelling copies gopher wood

Origin of gopher²

First recorded in 1925–30; respelling of gofer by association with gopher ¹

Explanation

A gopher is a small brown animal that digs holes and tunnels underground. It's also a colloquial name for a person who runs around doing tasks and errands for someone else. Like groundhogs, gophers are commonly found across North America, digging holes in backyards, gardens, and golf courses. Gophers are smaller than their burrowing rodent cousins, with cheek pouches that give them the commonly used name "pocket gopher." If you get a job as a gopher, you won't be tunneling underground, but running errands. This meaning comes from gopher's pronunciation, "go-fer" or "go-for."

Example Sentences

When the New England Patriots signed Mike Vrabel as a young linebacker in 2001, they sent a gopher from the team’s personnel department to scoop him up at the airport.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

They look like a cross between an otter and a gopher but they taste something like a rabbit or dark meat from turkey.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2025

“Gopher Broke” by Jeff Fowler and Tim Miller looked at the frustration of a hungry, ambitious gopher; it was their first and so far only nomination.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2025

An example is the gopher tortoise, which digs burrows that are used by more than 350 other species for breeding, feeding, protection from predators and avoiding extreme temperatures.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2023

Doubletree Mutt watched them over his shoulder; then he dug furiously, growled, sounded little sharp yelps to indicate that the gopher was practically caught.

From "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck