amphibian

noun

am·​phib·​i·​an am-ˈfi-bē-ən How to pronounce amphibian (audio)
1
: an amphibious organism
especially : any of a class (Amphibia) of cold-blooded vertebrates (such as frogs, toads, or salamanders) intermediate in many characters between fish and reptiles and having gilled aquatic larvae and air-breathing adults
Unlike reptiles, most amphibians possess a smooth, moist skin and lay their shell-less eggs in water or wet places. Jeffrey P. Cohn
2
: an amphibious vehicle
especially : an airplane designed to take off from and land on either land or water
amphibian adjective

Examples of amphibian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the visualizer for the song, Meléndez-Badillo writes about two amphibians endemic to Puerto Rico that are facing extinction. Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025 From cuddly rodents to happy amphibians to waddling birds, enjoy these delightful animals. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024 These three species add to the more than 400 species of amphibians on the island. Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024 The third amphibian is a new species of arboreal salamander, Bolitoglossa sp. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for amphibian 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Amphibia, taxon including frogs and salamanders (from neuter plural of amphibius amphibious) + -an entry 1

Note: As a taxon Amphibia was used as a class name already by linnaeus (Systema naturae, 10. editio, 1758, p. 196 et passim), but in a sense that included both amphibians and some reptiles. Limitation of the taxon to approximately its current meaning dates from Thomas Gray's "A Synopsis of the Genera of Reptiles and Amphibia" (Annals of Philosophy, new series vol. 10, July-December, 1825, pp.193-217) according to Darrel R. Frost, et al., "The Amphibian Tree of Life," Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, No. 297 (2006), p. 355. The use of both English amphibian and Latin amphibius with varying gender and number to refer to animals living on both land and sea (and in figurative senses) can be found much earlier.

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of amphibian was in 1749

Dictionary Entries Near amphibian

Cite this Entry

“Amphibian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amphibian. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

amphibian

noun
am·​phib·​i·​an am-ˈfib-ē-ən How to pronounce amphibian (audio)
1
: any organism that is able to live both on land and in water
especially : any of a class of cold-blooded vertebrate animals (as frogs and salamanders) that in many respects are between fishes and reptiles
2
: an airplane designed to take off from and land on either land or water
amphibian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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