A dinosaur was an extinctno longer living anywhere on Earth reptile that lived millions of years ago, during the Mesozoicthe era when dinosaurs and many other ancient animals lived era. Today, the word can also be used informally for something or someone that is old-fashioned or no longer up to date, but the main dictionary meaning refers to the prehistoricfrom a time before written history animal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈdaɪnəˌsɔr/
Easy pronunciation: DYE-nuh-SOR (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the first syllable; secondary stress on the last syllable.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dinosaur Meaning
a large extinct reptile that lived millions of years ago
Part of speech: noun
Definition: any of numerous extinct terrestrial reptiles of the Mesozoic era
Example: Scientists discovered new dinosaur bones in the desert.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dinosaur Synonyms
informal: something or someone that is old-fashioned or no longer current
- relic
- throwback
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use dinosaur to mean any very large prehistoric animal, but strictly speaking it refers to a specific group of extinct reptiles.
- In informal use, dinosaur can describe someone or something outdated, but that is a separate figurative meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dinosaur mean?
Dinosaur usually means an extinct reptile that lived millions of years ago in the Mesozoic era.
Is dinosaur a synonym for prehistoric animal?
Not exactly. A dinosaur is a specific kind of prehistoric reptile, not every prehistoric animal.
Can dinosaur mean old-fashioned?
Yes, in informal English it can describe something or someone that seems outdated, but that is a different meaning from the animal sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.