raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

-ˌtȯr

1

: a carnivorous medium- to large-sized bird (such as a hawk, eagle, owl, or vulture) that has a hooked beak and large sharp talons and that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : bird of prey

2

: a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (such as a velociraptor or deinonychus)

Examples of raptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The raptors’ recovery after DDT was banned in 1972 has been hailed as an environmental success story. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 24 May 2025

Crater Lake National Park is teeming with wildlife, from black bears and elk to some 84 species of songbirds and raptors. —Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 21 May 2025

These findings provoke a deeper consideration of how large raptors may have historically influenced primate behavior and evolution. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025

But also, all your raptors, your foxes and coyotes, everything else was filling up on cicadas, too. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) after New Latin Raptores, former order name, going back to Latin, plural of raptor "plunderer, robber, a beast or bird of prey," from rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force" + -tor, agent suffix; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin -raptor (as in velociraptor) — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for raptor

• apter
• captor
• chapter
• adapter
• adaptor
• subchapter

Kids Definition

raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

: bird of prey

Etymology

Latin raptor "plunderer," from rapere "to seize"