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Definition of freshwater crocodile
freshwater crocodile
Plural:freshwater crocodiles
freshwater crocodile Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Australian A species of relatively small crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) native to the northern regions of Australia, characterized by a narrow snout and primarily inhabiting inland freshwater wetlands, rivers, and billabongs.
Example
"During our boat tour of the Northern Territory, we spotted a freshwater crocodile basking quietly on the sandy riverbank."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often contrasted with the much larger and more dangerous saltwater crocodile, as both species inhabit overlapping ranges in northern Australia.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound name joining 'freshwater' and 'crocodile'. The word 'crocodile' derives via Latin from the Ancient Greek 'krokodeilos', meaning lizard.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Freshwater crocodile. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/freshwater crocodile