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

While neither lizard is known to carry disease that mosquitoes can contract and then pass on to humans, the issue, Miller says, is the change in the mosquitoes’ diet. —Denise Hruby, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025

Scientists found that the toxin from Gila monster lizards seemed to have particular physiological effects, helping lead eventually to one of the world’s most profitable and promising drugs. —Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

During their searches, the team found several unfamiliar-looking lizards around a cave entrance, the study said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025

Dinosauria: How the ‘terrible lizards’ got their name Museum of Natural History. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for lizard

• blizzard
• gizzard
• izard
• wizard

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