Tyrannosaurus rex

American  

[ti-ran-uh-sawr-uhs reks, tahy-] / tɪˌræn əˈsɔr əs ˈreks, taɪ- /

Also T. rex

noun

• Tyrannosaurus rexes
  plural

1. tyrannosaur.

---

Tyrannosaurus rex Cultural  

1. A large, carnivorous (see carnivore) dinosaur that walked on two legs. Its name is from the Greek words meaning “tyrant” and “lizard” and the Latin word for “king.”

---

Usage

What is a Tyrannosaurus rex? Tyrannosaurus rex was a giant, meat-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs and had a long tail and a big head with sharp teeth (and, yes, two little arms). The name Tyrannosaurus rex comes from the Greek words tyranno (“tyrant”) and saurus (“lizard”) and the Latin word rex (“king”). So, Tyrannosaurus rex means something like “king of the tyrant lizards.” It is commonly called T. rex for short. The name is fitting: Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the largest land predators that has ever lived. It was the largest of the tyrannosaurs, reaching a length of 47 feet (14. 3 m) or more. People often list the T. rex as their favorite dinosaur, and its popularity has grown through many pop culture depictions, such as its appearances in the Jurassic Park series of movies and books. However, to be scientifically precise about it, the T. rex lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 90–65 million years ago, around the end of the age of dinosaurs.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Tyrannosaurus rexes
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of Tyrannosaurus rex

First recorded in 1905–10; New Latin Tyrannosaurus, the genus name; see tyrannosaur ( def. ) + Latin rex “king”; see rex ( def. )

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Tyrannosaurus rex

Megaraptorans were closely related to tyrannosaurs including Tyrannosaurus rex but had slender heads and attacked prey with their large arms and giant curved claws instead of their jaws.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

If you’ve been to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, you’ve probably been wowed by the fossilized remains of Thomas, the formidable 34-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex dominating the Dinosaur Hall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

Tyrannosaurus rex was an imposing predator, while dinosaurs such as Apatosaurus reached truly massive proportions.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed "Gus" sold Tuesday for $50.1 million at Sotheby's in New York, making it the most valuable dinosaur fossil bought at auction after a 10-minute battle between seven bidders.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

After clearing that obstacle, Kyle quickly ducked left to escape the gaping jaws of a lunging Tyrannosaurus rex.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---