lizard

noun

liz·​ard ˈli-zərd 

1

: any of a suborder (Lacertilia) of reptiles distinguished from the snakes by a fused inseparable lower jaw, a single temporal opening, two pairs of well differentiated functional limbs which may be lacking in burrowing forms, external ears, and eyes with movable lids

broadly : any relatively long-bodied reptile (such as a crocodile or dinosaur) with legs and tapering tail

2

: leather made from lizard skin

Examples of lizard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The monument’s name honors the robust Chuckwalla lizards native to the area, which also supports bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and other wildlife. —Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 3 Jan. 2025

Everyone was doing their opening-night gifts and stuff, and meanwhile my boyfriend’s updating me on the lizard. —Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 2 Jan. 2025

For no particular reason his half-closed eyes would suddenly open like those of a dozing lizard. —Negar Azimi, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024

The San Antonio Zoo also successfully hatched more than 70 lizards this year. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English liserd, from Anglo-French lesarde, from Latin lacerta

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lizard

• beaded lizard
• horned lizard
• lizard's tail
• lounge lizard
• monitor lizard
• thunder lizard

Kids Definition

lizard

noun

liz·​ard ˈliz-ərd 

: any of a group of reptiles that can be told apart from the related snakes by their lower jaw which has the two halves joined and inseparable, by ears which are outside the body, by eyes with movable lids, and usually by two pairs of functional limbs