stegosaurus

noun

stego·​sau·​rus ˌste-gə-ˈsȯr-əs How to pronounce stegosaurus (audio)
: any of a genus (Stegosaurus) of stegosaurs known from the Upper Jurassic rocks especially of Colorado and Wyoming

Examples of stegosaurus 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.
Hana Fields has 18 – everything from the fan-favorite T-Rex to stegosauruses – set around 11 zones with different themes, such as a Volcanic Apocalypse, Cornfield Carnage, Haunted Island and the Lost Temple of Bones. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 6 Oct. 2025 The Gallery's search results brought me pictures of a Chester A. Arthur statue and several pictures of a stegosaurus display. PCMAG, 11 Feb. 2025 On a recent rainy Wednesday in Manhattan, Leonid Kogut sat and looked in awe at Apex, a stegosaurus that spans 27 feet. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024 The remains of a stegosaurus—now known as Apex—have a new home in N.Y.C’s American Museum of Natural History, where they will be displayed beginning this weekend, the Associated Press reports. Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for stegosaurus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek stegos roof + sauros lizard — more at thatch

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stegosaurus was in 1880

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stegosaurus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stegosaurus. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

stegosaurus

noun
stego·​sau·​rus ˌsteg-ə-ˈsȯr-əs How to pronounce stegosaurus (audio)
: any of a genus of 4-footed plant-eating dinosaurs having bony plates and spikes on the back and tail and whose fossil remains are found in the Upper Jurassic rocks of Colorado and Wyoming

More from Merriam-Webster on stegosaurus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!