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Definition of archaeopteryx

archaeopteryx

/ˌɑːrkiˈɑːptərɪks/
ar · chae · op · ter · yx
Plural:archaeopteryxes
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archaeopteryx Lexical Profile

archaeopteryx Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A crow-sized, extinct bird-like dinosaur of the genus Archaeopteryx from the Late Jurassic period of southern Germany, possessing feathered wings like a modern bird alongside reptilian features such as toothed jaws, clawed wing fingers, and a long bony tail.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for archaeopteryx

• Rhymes for archaeopteryx

• Nearby Words

archaeological
archaeologist
archaeology
archaeopteryx
archaic
archaically
archangel

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1861 by German paleontologist Hermann von Meyer from Ancient Greek arkhaios ('ancient') and pteryx ('wing' or 'feather'), following the discovery of a fossilized feather in southern Germany.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Archaeopteryx. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/archaeopteryx
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