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Definition of smilodon
smilodon
/ˈsmaɪ.lə.dɑːn/
smi · lo · don
Plural:smilodons
smilodon Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
smilodon Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• 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
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 Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/smilodon