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

The Mandai spa is no different in that respect, but nowhere else are the treatment rooms designed in honor of the humble pangolin, scaled and hunkered down against the chaos of the jungle. —Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2026

All subspecies of pangolins are protected under CITES. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026

While some reports indicate a downward trend in pangolin trafficking since the COVID-19 pandemic, they are still being poached at an alarming rate across parts of Africa, according to conservationists. —ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026

In another photograph, a pangolin orphaned by poachers is comforted with a blanket at a rescue center in South Africa. —Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026

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