pangolin

noun

pan·​go·​lin ˈpaŋ-gə-lən 

ˈpan-

: any of a family (Manidae of the order Pholidota) of Asian and African toothless mammals having the body covered dorsally with large imbricated horny scales

called also scaly anteater

Illustration of pangolin

Examples of pangolin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her new venture sits amid the Soutpansberg Mountains, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that’s home to wildlife including giraffes, leopards, and the endangered pangolin. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025

The innovation has been able to identify prints on tiger claws, rhino horns, pangolin scales and other wildlife, the photographer writes on Instagram. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024

In addition, traffickers were often found to be smuggling sea horses alongside other products, like pangolin scales and elephant ivory. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025

Today Gabon’s jungles are a stronghold for forest elephants, along with mandrills, chimpanzees, gorillas, and endangered giant pangolins. —Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Malay dialect pĕngguling

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pangolin

noun

pan·​go·​lin ˈpaŋ-gə-lən 

ˈpan-

: any of several Asian and African toothless mammals having the body covered with large overlapping horny scales