iguana

noun

igua·​na i-ˈgwä-nə 

: any of various large chiefly herbivorous usually green or brownish tropical American lizards (family Iguanidae, the iguana family) that have a serrated dorsal crest and large dewlap

broadly : any of various large lizards

Illustration of iguana

Examples of iguana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Customs inspectors found iguanas, pythons, tegus and scorpions. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Chilly with the chance of falling iguanas Why do iguanas freeze in cold temperatures? —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025

Florida residents have been warned to watch out for iguanas falling out of trees, and potentially landing on them, as temperatures plunge amid an East Coast Arctic snap. —Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

Villanueva said there are dogs and cats stored in the freezers, as well as a parrot and an iguana. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Arawak & Carib iwana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing iguana

• marine iguana

Rhymes for iguana

• asana
• chicana
• liana
• madonna
• maulana
• nirvana
• purana
• sadhana
• ana
• bwana
• dhyana
• donna

Kids Definition

iguana

noun

igua·​na i-ˈgwän-ə 

: any of various large plant-eating tropical American lizards that have a ridge of tall scales along the middle of the back and loose skin hanging below the neck