amphibian
noun
am·phib·i·an
am-ˈfi-bē-ən 
1
: an amphibious organism
especially
: any of a class (Amphibia) of cold-blooded vertebrates (such as frogs, toads, or salamanders) intermediate in many characters between fish and reptiles and having gilled aquatic larvae and air-breathing adults
Unlike reptiles, most amphibians possess a smooth, moist skin and lay their shell-less eggs in water or wet places. —
Jeffrey P. Cohn
Jeffrey P. Cohn 2
: an amphibious vehicle
especially
: an airplane designed to take off from and land on either land or water
amphibian
adjective
Examples of amphibian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In total, the fossil bed contains evidence of 16 groups of vertebrate animals, including 6-foot-long amphibians and freshwater sharks.
—Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2025
The same tools used here could help uncover hidden immune structures in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even humans!
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
The July 2025 release took place at an undisclosed remote site in the San Gabriel Mountains to protect the young amphibians and their new ecosystem.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 10 July 2025
These findings, unearthed from the Owl Rock Member that outcrops in a remote and less explored area of the site, reveal that at that time older animals like giant amphibians and armored crocodile relatives lived alongside newer species such as early frogs, turtles and pterosaurs.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for amphibian
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Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2025
The same tools used here could help uncover hidden immune structures in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even humans!
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
The July 2025 release took place at an undisclosed remote site in the San Gabriel Mountains to protect the young amphibians and their new ecosystem.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 10 July 2025
These findings, unearthed from the Owl Rock Member that outcrops in a remote and less explored area of the site, reveal that at that time older animals like giant amphibians and armored crocodile relatives lived alongside newer species such as early frogs, turtles and pterosaurs.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for amphibian
Cite this Entry
“Amphibian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amphibian. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
amphibian
noun
am·phib·i·an
am-ˈfib-ē-ən
1
: any organism that is able to live both on land and in water
especially
: any of a class of cold-blooded vertebrate animals (as frogs and salamanders) that in many respects are between fishes and reptiles
2
: an airplane designed to take off from and land on either land or water
amphibian
adjective
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