mosasaur

noun

mo·​sa·​saur ˈmō-zə-ˌsȯr 

: any of a family (Mosasauridae) of very large extinct marine fish-eating lizards of the Upper Cretaceous with limbs modified into paddles that are related to the recent monitor lizards

Examples of mosasaur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There was the mosasaur — a giant toothy marine reptile (and a surprise hero in Jurassic World). —Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026

Dinosaur fans know that late Cretaceous-era waters were ruled by sharp-toothed sharks and sea reptiles known as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs. —CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

These octopuses shared their environment with mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, marine reptiles that grew up to 50 feet, and sharks comparable in size to modern great whites. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

These octopuses shared the oceans with giant marine reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs — some reaching up to 50 feet long — as well as sharks comparable to modern great whites. —Ryan Brennan april 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Mosasaurus, from Latin Mosa the river Meuse + Greek sauros lizard

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mosasaur

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

Kids Definition

mosasaur

noun

mo·​sa·​saur ˈmō-zə-ˌsȯr 

: any of various very large extinct fish-eating lizards of seas of the Cretaceous period with limbs resembling paddles

Etymology

from Latin Mosa "the River Meuse" and Greek sauros "lizard"