big brown bat

noun

: an insectivorous medium-sized bat (Eptesicus fuscus) having brownish fur that is found from southern Canada to northern South America and that often roosts in buildings

Examples of big brown bat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Cave bats, which are more communal and easier to study, include the big brown bat, which is the species most likely to roost around homes or barns in warmer months. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2026 Planners discovered the barn was a summer roost for big brown bats and decided to preserve their habitat. Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2025 There are about 30 species of bats across the Southeast, but the most common types that get into homes are the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025 Most small mammals are short-lived, but compared with mice of similar stature, the big brown bat lives up to five times as long, sometimes topping out at 19 years old. Byhannah Richter, science.org, 30 July 2024 Five minutes later, a big brown bat (mouse-size, despite its species name) was the first to be trapped. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024 Little brown bat populations declined 89%, big brown bats dropped 47%, and Indiana bats saw the smallest effects, dropping 15%. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big brown bat was in 1898

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Cite this Entry

“Big brown bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20brown%20bat. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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