Illustration of tadpole
- tadpole in stages
: a larval amphibian
specifically
: a frog or toad larva that has a rounded body with a long tail bordered by fins and external gills soon replaced by internal gills and that undergoes a metamorphosis to the adult
Examples of tadpole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the Larian Studios RPG follows a party that seeks to cure themselves of a parasitic tadpole infecting their brains.
—
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
On this new home, life evolves at incredible speed (a frog’s eggs become tadpoles with the ability to float within seconds), and there are toxic liquids that threaten the seeds’ viability for fulfilling their biological purpose, as well as a sky with multiple moons and Saturn-like rings.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Dec. 2025
The Slingshot is an amazingly fun machine with a squirrelly, but not too squirrelly, back tire for propulsion – paired with the inherent balance of a tadpole-style three wheeler.
—New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2025
Scientists have newly described three extraordinary species of tree toad that leapfrog over the egg-to-tadpole stage.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tadpole
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Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
On this new home, life evolves at incredible speed (a frog’s eggs become tadpoles with the ability to float within seconds), and there are toxic liquids that threaten the seeds’ viability for fulfilling their biological purpose, as well as a sky with multiple moons and Saturn-like rings.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Dec. 2025
The Slingshot is an amazingly fun machine with a squirrelly, but not too squirrelly, back tire for propulsion – paired with the inherent balance of a tadpole-style three wheeler.
—New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2025
Scientists have newly described three extraordinary species of tree toad that leapfrog over the egg-to-tadpole stage.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tadpole
Cite this Entry
“Tadpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tadpole. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tadpole
noun
tad·pole
ˈtad-ˌpōl 
: the larva of a frog or toad that has a rounded body and a long tail, breathes with gills, and lives in water
called also pollywog
Etymology
Middle English taddepol "tadpole," from tode "toad" and polle "head"
Word Origin
A young tadpole looks like a large head with a tail. In time it will develop back legs and then front legs. Finally it will lose its tail and become a toad or a frog. Our word for this immature form of a toad or frog comes from Middle English taddepol. This word was a combination of two others, tode, meaning "toad," and polle, meaning "head."
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