caiman

noun

cai·​man ˈkā-mən 

kā-ˈman,

kī-

variants or less commonly cayman

: any of several Central and South American crocodilians (genera Caiman, Melanosuchus, and Paleosuchus) similar to alligators

Examples of caiman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trade in caimans and pythons is not completely banned but is strictly regulated under CITES rules. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2024

The caiman and python species are both protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES). —USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024

All of the hides were from caiman and pythons bred in captivity. —Joshua Goodman, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024

El Jardín Botánico is a sprawling, forested park patrolled by monkeys and caimans. —Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

Bite marks show that large caimans might have tried their luck on this armored giant. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

There’s also a historic hacienda built by the López presidential dynasty, a free natural history museum and a miniature Japanese garden whose pond is prowled by carp and caimans. —Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

Neal Rubin was once given a caiman, a smaller South American crocodilian, as a birthday gift and moved it across the country in the back seat of a '71 Plymouth Fury. —Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024

Jaguars and caimans, for example, love snacking on capybaras. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Spanish caimán, probably from Carib caymán

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

caiman

noun

cai·​man

variants also cayman

kā-ˈman,

kī-;

ˈkā-mən

: any of several Central and South American reptiles closely related to and resembling alligators