amphibious

[am-fib-ee-uhs]

adjective

1. living or able to live both on land and in water; belonging to both land and water.

2. Also capable of operating on both land and water.

   amphibious vehicles.

3. of or relating to military operations by both land and naval forces against the same object, especially to a military attack by troops landed by naval ships.

4. trained or organized to fight, or fighting, on both land and sea.

   amphibious troops.

5. combining two qualities, kinds, traits, etc.; of or having a mixed or twofold nature.

amphibious

/ æmˈfɪbɪəs /

adjective

1. able to live both on land and in the water, as frogs, toads, etc

2. designed for operation on or from both water and land

3. relating to military forces and equipment organized for operations launched from the sea against an enemy shore

4. having a dual or mixed nature

Other Word Forms

• amphibiousness noun
• amphibiously adverb
• nonamphibious adjective
• nonamphibiously adverb
• nonamphibiousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphibious¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin amphibius, from Greek amphíbios “living a double life”; amphi-, bio-, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphibious¹

C17: from Greek amphibios, literally: having a double life, from _amphi- + bios life

Example Sentences

The 17 miles of beach and coastal hills has, since World War II, proven critical in preparing soldiers for amphibious missions.

From Los Angeles Times

Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023 on espionage charges as he arrived for work on the amphibious assault ship, the USS Essex.

From BBC

The United States Marines are the country’s elite shock troops and an expeditionary force that specializes in amphibious assaults.

From Salon

The intention was for the amphibious troops on the western side of the Rhine to join up with the airborne troops dropped to its east.

From BBC

An amphibious mouse with webbed feet and a blob-headed fish are among 27 new species scientists have discovered in Peru.

From BBC

Related Words

• floating 
• marine 
• maritime