Search Dictionary
Definition of dunkleosteus
dunkleosteus
/ˌdʌŋ.kəlˈɑː.sti.əs/
dun · kle · os · te · us
Plural:dunkleosteuses
dunkleosteus Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
An extinct genus of massive, armored, jawed marine fishes belonging to the class Placodermi, which lived during the Late Devonian period and is characterized by its powerful, blade-like bony jaws.
Example
"The natural history museum featured a life-sized reconstruction of a dunkleosteus, highlighting its heavily armored head and terrifying shearing bite."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for dunkleosteus• Rhymes for dunkleosteus
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in 1956 in honor of David Dunkle, an American paleontologist at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, combined with the Greek suffix '-osteus' (from 'osteon', meaning bone) reflecting its heavily armored skull.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dunkleosteus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dunkleosteus