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Definition of mosasaur

mosasaur

/ˈmoʊzəˌsɔːr/
mo · sa · saur
Plural:mosasaurs
•
Adjective:mosasaurian
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mosasaur Lexical Profile

mosasaur Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An extinct, large carnivorous marine reptile of the Late Cretaceous period, distinguished by a long streamlined body, paddle-like flippers, and a powerful tail for swimming.

Example

"The natural history museum unveiled a spectacular, fully articulated skeleton of a mosasaur suspended from the ceiling to simulate its movement through water."

Word Nuance & Usage

Although commonly associated with dinosaurs in popular media, mosasaurs are strictly classified as marine reptiles, more closely related to modern snakes and monitor lizards.

• Nearby Words

morwong
mosaic
mosaic gourami
mosasaur
moscato
moscow
moselle

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century from the Latin 'Mosa' (the Meuse River in the Netherlands, near where the first major fossil was found) and the Greek 'sauros' (lizard).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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