raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

-ˌtȯr

1

: a carnivorous medium- to large-sized bird (such as a hawk, eagle, owl, or vulture) that has a hooked beak and large sharp talons and that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : bird of prey

2

: a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (such as a velociraptor or deinonychus)

Examples of raptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Move over Eagles, another raptor is taking over the gridiron. Ospreys who chose to raise their chicks in a nest on top of a light pole at a high school football stadium in Minnesota now have the whole field to themselves. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Because of it, the migratory raptors that are protected under state and federal law forced the school, known as the Eagles, to rearrange their football and soccer schedules, switching to day games instead of night. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025

All raptors have unique personalities, Ammann said. —Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025

The raptor stayed on top of her, even as the woman’s partner tried to free her. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) after New Latin Raptores, former order name, going back to Latin, plural of raptor "plunderer, robber, a beast or bird of prey," from rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force" + -tor, agent suffix; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin -raptor (as in velociraptor) — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for raptor

• apter
• captor
• chapter
• adapter
• adaptor
• subchapter

Kids Definition

raptor

noun

rap·​tor ˈrap-tər 

: bird of prey

Etymology

Latin raptor "plunderer," from rapere "to seize"