Cretaceous

adjective

Cre·​ta·​ceous kri-ˈtā-shəs 

: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era characterized by continued dominance of reptiles, emergent dominance of angiosperms, diversification of mammals, and the extinction of many types of organisms at the close of the period

also : of, relating to, or being the corresponding system of rocks see Geologic Time Table

Cretaceous noun

Examples of Cretaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Initial hypotheses suggested those become more elaborate over time in response to the growing threat of Cretaceous predators. —ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025

Camp Cretaceous creator and X-Men: First Class and Thor screenwriter Zack Stentz will adapt Murder As A Fine Art, the first novel in David Morrell’s (First Blood) Victorian mystery trilogy, as a TV series. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2025

These teeth, collected from North America, Africa, and Europe, date back to the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous periods. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025

The environment of present-day Alberta is radically different from its Cretaceous Era past. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin cretaceus resembling chalk, from creta chalk

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Cretaceous

• arenaceous
• argillaceous
• carbonaceous
• contumacious
• coriaceous
• efficacious
• farinaceous
• foliaceous
• membranaceous
• ochraceous
• olivaceous
• ostentatious

Kids Definition

Cretaceous

adjective

Cre·​ta·​ceous kri-ˈtā-shəs 

: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era of geological history marked by the extinction of the dinosaurs at the close of the period

also : relating to the corresponding system of rocks see geologic time

Cretaceous noun