velociraptor

noun

ve·​loc·​i·​rap·​tor və-ˈlä-sə-ˌrap-tər 

: any of a genus (Velociraptor) of theropod dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous having a long head with a flat snout and a large sickle-shaped claw on the second toe of each foot

Examples of velociraptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the course of the film, the two go from hating each other to becoming best friends who share a love of velociraptors, Good Housekeeping, and John Stamos. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2025

That’s appropriate, as the film paints Moore’s SHE-EO as a velociraptor in a miniskirt. —Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025

Take note, however, that the animal depicted by the artist in this remake is not a velociraptor. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

At Tyler Corporation, a high-security lab holds top-secret results of genetic engineering: the titular velociraptor, which cannot be seen … or trusted. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Latin vēlōc-, vēlōx "swift, rapid" + -i- -i- + raptor "plunderer, predator" — more at velocity, raptor

Note: The genus Velociraptor was introduced by the American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn (1857-1935) in "Three new Theropoda, Protoceratops zone, Central Mongolia," American Museum Novitates, No. 144 (November 7, 1924).

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for velociraptor

• adapter
• adaptor
• subchapter
• apter
• captor
• chapter
• raptor