mastodon

1 of 3

noun (1)

mas·​to·​don ˈma-stə-ˌdän 

-dən

1

: any of various extinct mammals (genus Mammut synonym Mastodon) of the elephant family existing from the Miocene through the Pleistocene that are distinguished from the related mammoths chiefly by molar teeth with cone-shaped cusps

2

: one that is unusually large

mastodonic

ˌma-stə-ˈdä-nik 

adjective

mastodont

ˈma-stə-ˌdänt 

adjective or noun

mastodont

2 of 3

adjective

mas·​to·​dont

1

: having or being teeth like a mastodon's

2

: of or relating to the mastodons

mastodont

3 of 3

noun (2)

"

plural -s

: mastodon

mastodontic

¦⸗⸗¦däntik

adjective

Synonyms of mastodon

Noun (1)

• whale
• dinosaur
• giant
• monster
• mammoth
• elephant

Examples of mastodon in a Sentence

Noun (1)

mom-and-pop stores just can't compete with these mastodons of retailing

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to this theory, those now-extinct megafauna—the giant ground sloths and the giant beavers, the mastodons and mammoths, and even the lions and dire wolves—were relatively quickly hunted to extinction. — Literary Hub, 10 June 2026

In other words, the areas most susceptible to damage from larger mammals like mastodons and giant sloths that once roamed the earth. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026

Other species recovered from the cave, including mastodons and ground sloths, are rare in the region. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026

Ground sloths and mastodons are linked to forest habitats. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from New Latin Mastodont-, Mastodon, genus name, Latinization of French mastodonte, vernacular name for the animal, from Greek mastós "breast, nipple" (probably from a pre-Greek substratal language) + French -odonte -odont; so named from the nipple-like cusps on the crowns of the molar teeth

Adjective

New Latin Mastodont-, Mastodon

Noun (2)

New Latin Mastodont-, Mastodon

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mastodon

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon

Kids Definition

mastodon

noun

mast·​odon

ˈmas-tə-ˌdän, 

-dən

: any of various huge extinct mammals related to the mammoths and existing elephants