pterodactyl
noun
ptero·dac·tyl
ˌter-ə-ˈdak-tᵊl 
: any of various pterosaurs (suborder Pterodactyloidea) of the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous having a rudimentary tail and a beak with reduced dentition
broadly
: pterosaur
Examples of pterodactyl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This dinosaur set features Lego pieces that transform into a pterodactyl, a triceratops, a T-rex figurine, and a buildable rib cage.
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Ali Faccenda, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2024
On the wall of the family bedroom, next to a row of medals, hung one son’s artwork: drawings of a Spinosaurus and a T-rex, a pterodactyl and a dragon, each carefully labeled in English.
—Bhadra Sharma, New York Times, 11 June 2024
On the left, Wyatt has two temporary tattoos, one of a pterodactyl and another of a sea animal.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
There was also Pterri (a pterodactyl), Conky (a robot), Randy (a pugnacious red-headed marionette), and Globey (a globe).
—Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for pterodactyl 
Ali Faccenda, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2024
On the wall of the family bedroom, next to a row of medals, hung one son’s artwork: drawings of a Spinosaurus and a T-rex, a pterodactyl and a dragon, each carefully labeled in English.
—Bhadra Sharma, New York Times, 11 June 2024
On the left, Wyatt has two temporary tattoos, one of a pterodactyl and another of a sea animal.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
There was also Pterri (a pterodactyl), Conky (a robot), Randy (a pugnacious red-headed marionette), and Globey (a globe).
—Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for pterodactyl
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pterodactyl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pterodactyl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pterodactyl. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pterodactyl
noun
ptero·dac·tyl
ˌter-ə-ˈdak-tᵊl
: any of various extinct flying reptiles having a featherless membrane extending from the body along the arms and forming the supporting surface of the wings
Etymology
from scientific Latin Pterodactylus "pterodactyl," from Greek pteron "wing" and Greek daktylos "finger"
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