noun

pterodactyl

tehr-uh-DAK-tuhl

Pterodactyl (noun) means a flying reptile from the dinosaur era with a long beak and wings made of skin stretched over a long finger bone. Example: “The museum's new exhibit features a life-size pterodactyl skeleton.”

noun

A flying reptile from the dinosaur era with a long beak and wings made of skin stretched over a long finger bone.

"The museum's new exhibit features a life-size pterodactyl skeleton."

How to use pterodactyl

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA prehistoric flying reptile, often pictured with a long beak and wide leathery wings.

Common mistake

Pterodactyls were flying reptiles, not dinosaurs, and not birds — a common mix-up in casual usage.

Word forms

pterodactyls plural

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The museum's new exhibit features a life-size _____ skeleton.

Etymology

From French ptérodactyle, coined by naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek pteron ("wing") + daktylos ("finger").

Origin: French

Frequently asked questions

What does “pterodactyl” mean?

The word “pterodactyl” means a flying reptile from the dinosaur era with a long beak and wings made of skin stretched over a long finger bone. In plain terms, a prehistoric flying reptile, often pictured with a long beak and wide leathery wings.

How do you pronounce “pterodactyl”?

“Pterodactyl” is pronounced tehr-uh-DAK-tuhl (/ˌtɛɹ.əˈdæk.təl/ in IPA).

How do you use “pterodactyl” in a sentence?

Here is “pterodactyl” used in a sentence: “The museum's new exhibit features a life-size pterodactyl skeleton.”

What part of speech is “pterodactyl”?

“Pterodactyl” is a noun.

Where does the word “pterodactyl” come from?

The word “pterodactyl” comes from French. From French ptérodactyle, coined by naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek pteron ("wing") + daktylos ("finger").