iguana

noun

igua·​na i-ˈgwä-nə How to pronounce iguana (audio)
: any of various large chiefly herbivorous usually green or brownish tropical American lizards (family Iguanidae, the iguana family) that have a serrated dorsal crest and large dewlap
broadly : any of various large lizards

Illustration of iguana

Illustration of iguana

Examples of iguana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As the sun comes up, green heads can often be seen bobbing in the inlet, followed by long, scaly bodies: iguanas clambering up the small wooden jetty to warm themselves. Alice Newell-Hanson Stefan Ruiz, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Yes, falling iguanas are in the forecast once again in Florida. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 Find sharks, iguanas, birds and more with the projects below! Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 This project solves the problem with drones, capturing stunning images of iguanas in their natural habitat. Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 Take excursions on the hotel's private yacht to see the famous blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Christmas iguanas. Judy Koutsky, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2023 Basing the way Leo sounds on his squeaky-scratchy, slightly guttural impression of the late Hollywood agent Bernie Brillstein, Sandler voices a crusty old iguana who’s spent three-quarters of a century — practically his entire life — trapped in an elementary school classroom. Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 Nov. 2023 There’s also remarkable wildlife to be seen, ranging from sea lions and flamingos to a variety of finches and aquatic iguanas. Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2023 Your family can go horseback riding, tour the nearby rain forest, learn how to do the salsa and other island dances, feed an iguana, and play tug-of-war at the beach—all in one day. Karen Cicero, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'iguana.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Arawak & Carib iwana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of iguana was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near iguana

Cite this Entry

“Iguana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iguana. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

iguana

noun
igua·​na i-ˈgwän-ə How to pronounce iguana (audio)
: any of various large plant-eating tropical American lizards that have a ridge of tall scales along the middle of the back and loose skin hanging below the neck

More from Merriam-Webster on iguana

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