lizard

noun

liz·​ard ˈli-zərd How to pronounce lizard (audio)
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
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.
During their visits, researchers noticed three unfamiliar-looking lizards. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025 Climate & Environment Chuckwalla National Monument would protect swath of California desert and preserve a sacred land April 28, 2024 Besides its namesake, the Chuckwalla lizard, the area is home to bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, kangaroo rats, burrowing owls and jackrabbits. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025 According to the administration’s press release, more than 50 rare or threatened species live within the Chuckwalla monument’s borders, including the Chuckwalla lizard from which the monument draws its name. Miyo McGinn, Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2025 And as for the Sombrero ground lizards, their numbers have ballooned by 16 times in six years. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lizard 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lizard was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lizard

Cite this Entry

“Lizard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lizard. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

lizard

noun
liz·​ard ˈliz-ərd How to pronounce lizard (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on lizard

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