amphibious

adjective

am·​phib·​i·​ous am-ˈfi-bē-əs 

1

: combining two characteristics

2

a

: relating to or adapted for both land and water

amphibious vehicles

b

: executed by coordinated action of land, sea, and air forces organized for invasion

an amphibious landing

also : trained or organized for such action

amphibious forces

3

: able to live both on land and in water

amphibious plants

amphibiously adverb

amphibiousness noun

Examples of amphibious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the time, Wei was a petty officer who held a security clearance and worked as a machinist’s mate aboard the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship. —Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025

The Spanish Navy’s Juan Carlos I (L 61) amphibious assault ship seen during NATO’s largest annual maritime drill, Exercise Dynamic Mariner / Flotex 25, continues in the Gulf of Cadiz off southern Spain on March 28, 2025. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2025

On June 26, the crew of the USS Comstock, an amphibious warfare ship designed to transport and launch landing craft, vehicles, and troops, noticed an oily substance near the ship off the coast of Seal Beach. —Brian Rokos, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025

As the military celebrated the anniversary of its founding on Friday, Chinese state media also disclosed details about a submarine equipped with nuclear missiles and Beijing officially unveiled its fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin amphibius "living both on land and in water" (borrowed from Greek amphíbios "living a double life, living both on land and in the water," from amphi- amphi- + -bios "having such a mode of life," derivative of bíos "life") + -ous — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

amphibious

adjective

am·​phib·​i·​ous am-ˈfib-ē-əs 

1

: able to live both on land and in water

amphibious plants

2

a

: designed for use on both land and water

amphibious vehicles

b

: carried out by land, sea, and air forces acting together

an amphibious assault

amphibiously adverb

amphibiousness noun

Etymology

from Greek amphibios "living a double life," from amphi- "around, on both sides" and bios "mode of life"