caiman

noun cai·man \ ˈkā-mən ; kā-ˈman , kī- \

variants: or less commonly cayman

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of caiman

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

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Recent Examples of caiman from the Web

Alligators, along with crocodiles, caiman and other similar reptiles, are federally protected.

— nicole darrah, Fox News, "Houston alligator run over by vehicle, dismembered for souvenirs, report says," 3 Apr. 2018
The specimens mostly belonged to extinct crocodilians, which is the supergroup that encompasses both alligators and crocodiles, as well as caimans and gharials.

— nicholas st. fleur, New York Times, "A Newly Discovered Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles," 12 Mar. 2018
Elsewhere in the world, there are several observations of crocodilians—a group that includes alligators, crocodiles, and caimans—duking it out with elasmobranchs.

— National Geographic, "Alligators Attack and Eat Sharks, Study Confirms," 20 Sep. 2017
Just west of where the San Juan River pours into the body of Lake Nicaragua — Central America’s largest lake — is a wildlife refuge brimming with crocodiles, caimans and iguanas.

— laura kiniry, USA TODAY, "Seven once-in-a-lifetime safaris that aren’t in Africa," 31 Aug. 2017
According to Ms. Griswold, her father was also devoted to the family’s unusual pet: a caiman named Calvin.

— christina tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "Dr. John Griswold of White Hall dies," 27 Aug. 2017
The crocs can be found only in the Zapata Swamp in a habitat deemed the smallest for any living croc species, which include alligators, crocs and caimans.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Like to pet alligators? Head to Croc Fest," 23 June 2017
The vast majority were common caimans, an animal that likely numbers in the millions and is not of conservation concern.

— tim laman, National Geographic, "Snakes, Sharks, and Other Wild Animals Americans Want," 3 Mar. 2016
There are shots of thick clouds of butterflies against the blue sunset sky shaded by Amazonian tree canopies, and ominous dark river water that is likely filled with piranhas and black caimans, waiting.

— donovan webster, Smithsonian, "How Director James Gray Discovered the Insanity Behind the Search for “The Lost City of Z”," 11 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caiman.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.