Search Dictionary
Definition of pachycephalosaurus
pachycephalosaurus
/ˌpæk.ɪˌsɛf.ə.loʊˈsɔːr.əs/
pach · y · ceph · a · lo · sau · rus
Plural:pachycephalosauruses
pachycephalosaurus Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A genus of large, bipedal, herbivorous or omnivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of North America, characterized by an extremely thick, domed skull roof surrounded by bony knobs.
Example
"Paleontologists continue to debate whether the thick skull dome of the pachycephalosaurus was used primarily for physical head-butting combat or merely for species recognition and visual display."
• Rhymes for pachycephalosaurus
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1943 by paleontologist Charles W. Gilmore, derived from the Ancient Greek words 'pakhús' (thick), 'kephalḗ' (head), and 'saûros' (lizard), referring to the remarkably thick bone forming the roof of the dinosaur's skull.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pachycephalosaurus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pachycephalosaurus