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Definition of hesperornis

hesperornis

/ˌhɛs.pərˈɔːr.nɪs/
hes · per · or · nis
Plural:hesperornithes
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hesperornis Lexical Profile

• noun

1

An extinct genus of flightless, aquatic, toothed birds that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, native to the marine environments of the Western Interior Seaway in North America.

Example

"The fossilized remains of a hesperornis revealed that these primitive birds had powerful hind legs for diving and lobed toes similar to modern grebes."

• Rhymes for hesperornis

• Nearby Words

hesitator
hesperantha
hesperis
hesperornis
hessian
hetero
heterogeneous

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1872 by paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh from the Ancient Greek 'hesperos' (western) and 'ornis' (bird), referring to its discovery in the western United States.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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