crocodilian

noun

croc·​o·​dil·​ian ˌkrä-kə-ˈdil-yən 

-ˈdi-lē-ən

: 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 roughly foot-long crocodilian startled a few people and became an instant social media star after confused onlookers took videos of it slipping out of sight. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

There are around 800 alligators at the farm and 24 species of crocodilians overall in the park. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025

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

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