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

• amphibiously adverb
• amphibiousness noun
• 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 Navy has 287 ships in its current inventory, mostly destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships and submarines.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As of 23 October, we identified 10 US military ships in the region, including guided missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships and oil tankers for refuelling vessels at sea.

Read more on BBC

It’s also amphibious, behavior highly atypical in cars.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Pentagon also dispatched B-52 bombers on Wednesday near La Orchila, according to flight tracking data, a Venezuelan island where Maduro’s forces carried out drills last month featuring jets, warships and amphibious vehicles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A military media advisory said the celebration will include a live amphibious assault demonstration.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• floating 
• marine 
• maritime