reptile

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noun rep·tile \ ˈrep-ˌtī(-ə)l , -tᵊl \

Definition of reptile

1 :an animal that crawls or moves on its belly (such as a snake) or on small short legs (such as a lizard)

2 :any of a class (Reptilia) of cold-blooded, air-breathing, usually egg-laying vertebrates that include the alligators and crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, and extinct related forms (such as dinosaurs and pterosaurs) and that have a body typically covered with scales or bony plates and a bony skeleton with a single occipital condyle, a distinct quadrate bone usually immovably articulated with the skull, and ribs attached to the sternum

3 :a groveling or despised person

See reptile defined for English-language learners

See reptile defined for kids

Examples of reptile in a Sentence

He called the governor's top aide a reptile.
the actor plays a total reptile who's somehow still a hit with the ladies

Recent Examples of reptile from the Web

The first new Loop elevated stop in 20 years, the $75 million Washington-Wabash Station stands out because the canopies covering its passenger platforms appear to undulate, like the skeleton of a skinny reptile.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "First new Loop 'L' station in 20 years creates curvy gateway to Millennium Park," 29 Aug. 2017
The ones with teeth grasp and tear like reptiles and then swallow the chunks whole.

— sarah zhang, The Atlantic, "A Prehistoric Toothless Dolphin That Ate by Vacuuming Up Squid," 23 Aug. 2017
High-wire acts, kangaroos and reptiles Many acts are booked around the grounds, with most of those performances several times daily.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Here are 5 things (and more) to know about the 2017 Kentucky State Fair," 11 Aug. 2017
Scientists describe the ancient reptile in the current issue of Scientific Reports.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "It's Never Too Early to Start Thinking About 2020," 28 July 2017
So far, there’s only one piece of personal artwork up—a black-and-white photograph on the mantelpiece of the six children, smiling and holding their various pets—dogs, reptiles, and rodents.

— evgenia peretz, vanityfair.com, "Angelina Jolie Solo," 26 July 2017
The reptile was transferred to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

— Washington Post, "Prince George’s County Animal Watch," 5 July 2017
In the video, shot earlier this week by Park Ranger Landon Coker, a team of men carefully snare the gator and draw the thrashing reptile out of park waters.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Well-fed, 8-foot alligator relocated at Gulf State Park after becoming 'nuisance'," 29 June 2017
Judging by Jeff Zevely from CBS8 will start at 9:30 a.m. The patriotic costume contest is free and open to all types of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rabbits and hamsters.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Rancho Bernardo to offer full-day of Independence Day fun," 28 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reptile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of reptile

Middle English reptil, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French reptile (feminine), from Late Latin reptile (neuter), from neuter of reptilis creeping, from Latin reptus, past participle of repere to crawl; akin to Lithuanian rėplioti to crawl

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

reptile Synonyms

Synonyms

bastard, beast, bleeder [British], blighter [chiefly British], boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud [slang], crumb [slang], cur, dirtbag [slang], dog, fink, heel, hound, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, jerk, rotter, schmuck [slang], scum, scumbag [slang], scuzzball [slang], skunk, sleaze, sleazebag [slang], sleazeball [slang], slime, slimeball [slang], slob, snake, so-and-so, sod [chiefly British], stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin

Related Words

barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage; loudmouth, vulgarian; lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch; booby, doofus [slang], fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, schmo (or schmoe) [slang]; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink [slang], dolt, dope, dork [slang], goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey; brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip; snob, snoot, snot; dweeb [slang], nerd

Near Antonyms

hero, heroine, idol, role model; gentleman, lady; angel, saint

reptile

adjective

Definition of reptile

:characteristic of a reptile :reptilian

Recent Examples of reptile from the Web

And hey, anything is possible — well, maybe not reptile babies.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "The Most Ridiculous Taylor Swift Conspiracy Theories," 28 Aug. 2017
Reptile world An exploration of snakes, lizards and their relatives.

— jillian s. jarrett, Washington Post, "What’s happening in Prince George's County," 26 July 2017

First Known Use of reptile

1607

REPTILE Defined for English Language Learners

reptile

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noun

Definition of reptile for English Language Learners

: an animal (such as a snake, lizard, turtle, or alligator) that has cold blood, that lays eggs, and that has a body covered with scales or hard parts
: a person who cannot be trusted or who is not likable

REPTILE Defined for Kids

reptile

play

noun rep·tile \ ˈrep-təl , -ˌtīl \

Definition of reptile for Students

:a cold-blooded animal (as a snake, lizard, turtle, or alligator) that breathes air and usually has the skin covered with scales or bony plates

History for reptile

Most of the animals we call reptiles creep or crawl about. Some, like snakes, crawl about on their bellies. Some, like lizards, creep about on little, short legs. The English word reptile came from a Latin word reptilis that meant “creeping,” which is derived from the verb repere meaning “to crawl.”