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Definition of smilodon

smilodon

/ˈsmaɪ.lə.dɑːn/
smi · lo · don
Plural:smilodons
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smilodon Lexical Profile

smilodon Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An extinct genus of heavily built machairodont feline that lived in the Americas during the Pleistocene epoch, renowned for its exceptionally long, blade-like upper canine teeth.

Example

"Paleontologists excavating the La Brea Tar Pits discovered numerous well-preserved smilodon skulls, offering remarkable insights into Ice Age predators."

Word Nuance & Usage

Although colloquially referred to as the 'saber-toothed tiger', the smilodon is a false friend to modern tigers; it belongs to a completely extinct, distinct subfamily of felines.

• Rhymes for smilodon

• Nearby Words

smiley
smiling
smilingly
smilodon
smirk
smirker
smirky

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1842 by Danish paleontologist Peter Wilhelm Lund from the Greek 'smilē' (carving knife) and 'odous' or 'odont-' (tooth), referencing its distinctive, blade-like canine teeth.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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