iguanodon

noun

iguan·​odon i-ˈgwä-nə-ˌdän How to pronounce iguanodon (audio)
: any of a genus (Iguanodon) of very large herbivorous dinosaurs of the Early Cretaceous

Examples of iguanodon 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.
Top image: Pictured is the iguanodon fossil to be auctioned soon. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 However, there is evidence that tyrannosaurids, like the T-Rex, suffered from gout and that iguanodons may have had osteoarthritis. Katie Hunt, CNN, 13 Feb. 2020 Fostoria was an herbivore that stood on its hind legs and belonged to the same group of dinosaurs as iguanodons. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 4 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Iguanodont-, Iguanodon, from Spanish iguana + Greek odōn tooth, from odont-, odous — more at tooth

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of iguanodon was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near iguanodon

Cite this Entry

“Iguanodon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iguanodon. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

iguanodon

noun
iguan·​odon i-ˈgwän-ə-ˌdän How to pronounce iguanodon (audio)
: a large plant-eating dinosaur of the Cretaceous period that usually walked on all four legs
Etymology

from Spanish iguana "iguana" and Greek odōn "tooth"

More from Merriam-Webster on iguanodon

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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