velociraptor

noun

ve·​loc·​i·​rap·​tor və-ˈlä-sə-ˌrap-tər 

: any of a genus (Velociraptor) of theropod dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous having a long head with a flat snout and a large sickle-shaped claw on the second toe of each foot

Examples of velociraptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Along the way, guests dodged incoming attacks from velociraptors, pteranodons, and a giant carnotaurus — a giant animatronic figure of which lunged at the Time Rovers in the final scene of the attraction's main story. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026

Yet season four’s most captivating moment arguably came from what CG Animation Director Ryan Donoghue calls the grand farewell to Chaos Theory’s dinosaur ensemble — a battle staged outside that clinic featuring three tyrannosaurus rexes and five junior velociraptors. —Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026

Visitors can interact with several dozen moving replicas of dinosaurs ranging from T. rex and stegosaurus to velociraptors along with Jurassic sea giants in a virtual aquarium. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2025

People will jump on you like velociraptors. —Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Latin vēlōc-, vēlōx "swift, rapid" + -i- -i- + raptor "plunderer, predator" — more at velocity, raptor

Note: The genus Velociraptor was introduced by the American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn (1857-1935) in "Three new Theropoda, Protoceratops zone, Central Mongolia," American Museum Novitates, No. 144 (November 7, 1924).

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for velociraptor

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