armadillo

noun

ar·​ma·​dil·​lo ˌär-mə-ˈdi-(ˌ)lō 

plural armadillos

: any of a family (Dasypodidae) of burrowing edentate mammals found from the southern U.S. to Argentina and having the body and head encased in an armor of small bony plates

Illustration of armadillo

Examples of armadillo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to sloths and monkeys, Parque de Aventura is home to wild cats, anteaters, armadillos, and more than 100 species of birds. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2025

But there was no one for the first 83 miles except turtles and armadillos. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2025

And armadillos tear up gardens and lawns looking for bugs, and there are no repellents that work. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 May 2025

Forget about using repellants, soap, or sonic devices to keep armadillos away. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, noun derivative, with -illo, diminutive suffix, of armado, past participle of armar "to arm," going back to Latin armāre — more at arm entry 2

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for armadillo

• billow
• pillow
• caudillo

Kids Definition

armadillo

noun

ar·​ma·​dil·​lo ˌär-mə-ˈdil-ō 

plural armadillos

: any of several small burrowing mammals of warm parts of the Americas whose head and body are protected by hard bony armor