caiman

noun

cai·​man ˈkā-mən  kā-ˈman 

kī-

variants or less commonly cayman

: any of several Central and South American crocodilians (such as genera Caiman, Melanosuchus, and Paleosuchus) similar to alligators

Examples of caiman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Embarking on its maiden voyage in June 2025 from the hub of Iquitos, Pure Amazon, a sleek 22-guest riverboat from luxury travel operator Abercrombie & Kent, promises views of caimans, sloths, and massive anacondas through panoramic wall-to-wall windows and immersive excursions. —Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024

Intriguingly, the fossil also shows evidence of teeth marks that are judged to have probably belonged to an extinct caiman, or crocodilian, species—purussaurus—that is thought to have grown up to 30 feet in length. —Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

The waters surrounding the lodge are densely occupied by black caimans who float about peacefully and sometimes enjoy a rest underneath the floorboards of the lodge. —Jamie Ditaranto, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2024

In addition to the primates and bats, the museum holds exquisite fossils of fish, caimans, giant turtles, plants, dolphins, birds, and amphibians. —Byrodrigo Pérez Ortega, science.org, 17 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish caimán, probably from Carib caymán

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

caiman

noun

cai·​man

variants also cayman

kā-ˈman,

kī-;

ˈkā-mən

: any of several Central and South American reptiles closely related to and resembling alligators