reptile

1 of 2

noun

rep·​tile ˈrep-ˌtī(-ə)l How to pronounce reptile (audio)
-tᵊl
1
: an animal that crawls or moves on its belly (such as a snake) or on small short legs (such as a lizard)
2
: any of a class (Reptilia) of cold-blooded, air-breathing, usually egg-laying vertebrates that include the alligators and crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, and extinct related forms (such as dinosaurs and pterosaurs) and that have a body typically covered with scales or bony plates and a bony skeleton with a single occipital condyle, a distinct quadrate bone usually immovably articulated with the skull, and ribs attached to the sternum
3
: a groveling or despised person

reptile

2 of 2

adjective

: characteristic of a reptile : reptilian

Examples of reptile in a Sentence

Noun He called the governor's top aide a reptile. the actor plays a total reptile who's somehow still a hit with the ladies
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For centuries those creepy reptiles have made their mark in the fashion world. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 The Ice Age made the islands inhospitable to reptiles, whose cold-blooded bodies need heat from the surroundings to function. Sarah Fecht, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024 For the first century of dinosaur science, paleontologists imagined titanosaurs as giant, overgrown reptiles – and used reptilian growth rates to predict their milestones. Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 These marine reptiles, which are emblematic of both endurance and tranquility, play vital roles in oceanic ecosystems. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 The aquatic reptile was found in Guizhou Province in Southern China, per the NHS press release. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 The team studied the bizarre reptile at the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology in Beijing. Diba Mohtasham, NPR, 23 Feb. 2024 Wildlife Beyond the 1,500 blooming plants, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to around 65 species of mammals, over 200 varieties of birds, 67 native fish species, and more than 80 types of reptiles and amphibians. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 The reptiles are considered the heaviest snakes in the world. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
For him, a flashy reptile leather jacket was worn with a mesh top and jeans, but there was also a dark blue double-breasted suit for more formal business occasions. Colleen Barry, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2022 Currently, it can be seen in the aquatic and reptile center. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2023 Some sampling studies suggest the reptile snacks reduce local snake populations by about 40 percent. Bethany Brookshire, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022 There's a terrifying reptile version of a turducken, just in time for Thanksgiving. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2022 Future studies of the fossil species may one day reveal why once-diverse reptile groups declined so dramatically with time. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022 That, in turn, will attract birds and small mammals, as well as reptile predators such as snakes and lizards. Derek Hawkins, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reptile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English reptil, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French reptile (feminine), from Late Latin reptile (neuter), from neuter of reptilis creeping, from Latin reptus, past participle of repere to crawl; akin to Lithuanian rėplioti to crawl

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near reptile

Cite this Entry

“Reptile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reptile. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reptile

1 of 2 noun
rep·​tile ˈrep-tᵊl How to pronounce reptile (audio)
-ˌtīl
: any of a group of cold-blooded air-breathing vertebrates (as snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators) that usually lay eggs and have skin covered with scales or bony plates

reptile

2 of 2 adjective
: characteristic of a reptile : reptilian

More from Merriam-Webster on reptile

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