weasel

American  

[wee-zuhl] / ˈwi zəl /

noun

plural

weasels,

plural

weasel

1. any small carnivore of the genus Mustela, of the family Mustelidae, having a long, slender body and feeding chiefly on small rodents.

2. any of various similar animals of the family Mustelidae.

3. a cunning, sneaky person.

4. a tracked vehicle resembling a tractor, used in snow.

5. Slang. an informer; stool pigeon.

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verb (used without object)

1. to evade an obligation, duty, or the like; renege (often followed byout ).

   That's one invitation I'd like to weasel out of.

2. to use weasel words; be ambiguous; mislead.

   Upon cross-examination the witness began to weasel.

3. Slang. to inform.

weasel British  

/ ˈwiːzəl /

noun

1. any of various small predatory musteline mammals of the genus Mustela and related genera, esp M. nivalis ( European weasel ), having reddish-brown fur, an elongated body and neck, and short legs

2. informal a sly or treacherous person

3. a motor vehicle for use in snow, esp one with caterpillar tracks

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Other Word Forms

• weaselly adjective

Etymology

Origin of weasel

before 900; 1920–25 weasel for def. 6; Middle English wesele, Old English wesle, weosule; cognate with Old High German wisula, German Wiesel

Explanation

A weasel is a sneaky and sly person. Your weasel of a friend has a habit of "forgetting" his wallet every time he goes out to dinner with you. You can call someone who cheats and lies a weasel, or you can use the word literally, to refer to the small furry mammal called a weasel. The furry kind of weasel is known for its short legs, long neck, and musky smell. In fact, the word's Proto-Germanic origin wisand carries the meaning of a stinky animal. The verb weasel means to sneak or evade, like when you weasel out of doing the dishes.

Example Sentences

“But when universities do the same thing by trying to weasel out of their contracts, it’s equally corrosive.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Although Kennedy repeatedly claimed that he's not anti-vaccine throughout his hearing, his statements about vaccines are loaded with weasel words and caveats that are common deflection strategies from vaccine denialists.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2025

Traditional brushes are made with animal hair from squirrels, goats or sable, a species of weasel.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

He’s a weasel with a sword, the drunken-samurai trope like the tragic buffoon Kikuchiyo, portrayed by the great Toshiro Mifune in the Akira Kurosawa classic “Seven Samurai.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2024

The weasel struck him again and again upon the legs.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques