non-avian

adjective

non-avi·​an ˌnän-ˈā-vē-ən 

variants or nonavian

1

: not of or relating to birds : not avian

… assorted nonavian creatures whirring, buzzing and croaking.

—Richard Conniff

nonavian anatomy

2

: of, relating to, or being a non-avian dinosaur

non-avian theropods

Examples of non-avian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Established back in 1955, Dinosaur Provincial Park has long been renowned for its abundance of fossils, with more than fifty non-avian dinosaur species discovered within its boundaries—and beyond ancient creatures, the region offers top-tier hiking opportunities and modern wildlife as well. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 2