noun

mastodon

MAS-tuh-don

Mastodon (noun) means an extinct elephant-like mammal that lived until roughly the end of the last ice age. Example: “Archaeologists uncovered mastodon bones at the dig site.”

noun

An extinct elephant-like mammal that lived until roughly the end of the last ice age.

"Archaeologists uncovered mastodon bones at the dig site."

Something enormous or unwieldy, used figuratively.

"The old printing press sat in the corner like a mastodon."

How to use mastodon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA prehistoric relative of the elephant, or (informally) anything huge and clunky.

Easily confused with

mammoth →

Word forms

mastodons plural, Mastodons plural

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Archaeologists uncovered _____ bones at the dig site.

Etymology

Coined in 1806 by French naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek masto- ("breast") plus odon ("tooth"), describing the nipple-shaped bumps on the animal's molars.

Origin: French · First attested 1806

Class of 1806 mastodon joined the language around 1806.

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Synonyms

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mastodont

Frequently asked questions

What does “mastodon” mean?

The word “mastodon” means an extinct elephant-like mammal that lived until roughly the end of the last ice age. In plain terms, a prehistoric relative of the elephant, or (informally) anything huge and clunky.

How do you pronounce “mastodon”?

“Mastodon” is pronounced MAS-tuh-don (/ˈmæs.tə.dɑn/ in IPA).

How do you use “mastodon” in a sentence?

Here is “mastodon” used in a sentence: “Archaeologists uncovered mastodon bones at the dig site.”

What part of speech is “mastodon”?

“Mastodon” is a noun.

Where does the word “mastodon” come from?

The word “mastodon” dates back to around 1806 and comes from French. Coined in 1806 by French naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek masto- ("breast") plus odon ("tooth"), describing the nipple-shaped bumps on the animal's molars.

How many meanings does “mastodon” have?

“Mastodon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an extinct elephant-like mammal that lived until roughly the end of the last ice age.