crocodilian

noun

croc·​o·​dil·​ian ˌkrä-kə-ˈdi-lē-ən 

-ˈdil-yən

: any of an order (Crocodylia) of reptiles including the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, gharials, and related extinct forms

crocodilian adjective

Examples of crocodilian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The research team analyzed DNA and fossils from 128 living and extinct crocodilians—the group that includes crocodiles, alligators and caimans—to paint a picture of how these animals evolved. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025

Deinosuchus was one of the largest crocodilians that ever lived, with a body nearly as long as a bus and teeth the size of bananas. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025

Higher wisdom requires us to pause, tame our crocodilian thinking, and open ourselves to the field of divergent possibilities. —Hylke Faber, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

The standout sculpture is the gaping crocodilian mask constructed from crushed, reddish plastic. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crocodilian

• multibillion
• multimillion
• billion
• million
• pillion
• trillion
• castilian
• civilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion

Kids Definition

crocodilian

noun

croc·​o·​dil·​ian ˌkräk-ə-ˈdil-ē-ən 

-ˈdil-yən

: any of an order of reptiles that includes the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and related extinct forms

crocodilian adjective