caiman

noun

cai·​man ˈkā-mən How to pronounce caiman (audio) kā-ˈman How to pronounce caiman (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Amazon The Amazon is home to over three million species of wildlife, including the famous pink river dolphin, tree frogs, spider monkeys, macaws, and anacondas—alongside diverse fish species and reptiles, like piranhas and caimans. Emmanuel Burgio, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025 The researchers didn’t find any evidence of gnawing, which further supports the hypothesis that a caiman had chomped down on it. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025 Alligators, crocodiles and caiman are not included. Bella Waters, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025 One evening, a young man named Francis took us on a walk and found rainbow beetles, scorpions, a possum and a 3-foot-long caiman. The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for caiman

Word History

Etymology

Spanish caimán, probably from Carib caymán

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caiman was in 1577

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Caiman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caiman. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on caiman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!