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Definition of gavial
gavial
/ˈɡeɪ.vi.əl/
ga · vi · al
Plural:gavials
gavial Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
gavial Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A large, critically endangered crocodilian native to the river systems of the northern Indian subcontinent, distinguished by its exceptionally long, narrow snout adapted for catching fish.
Example
"The wildlife documentary highlighted the extensive conservation efforts underway to protect the few remaining gavials in the Chambal River."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for gavialWord Nuance & Usage
The term 'gavial' is synonymous with 'gharial'. 'Gharial' is now more frequently preferred in modern scientific and conservation contexts, as 'gavial' originated from a historical European misspelling.
• Rhymes for gavial
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the late 18th century from French 'gavial', which was an alteration or misreading of the Hindi word 'ghaṛiyāl'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gavial. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gavial