armadillo
Americannoun
noun
-
any edentate mammal of the family Dasypodidae of Central and South America and S North America, such as Priodontes giganteus ( giant armadillo ). They are burrowing animals, with peglike rootless teeth and a covering of strong horny plates over most of the body
-
another name for pichiciego
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of armadillo
1570–80; < Spanish, equivalent to armad ( o ) armed (< Latin armātus; see arm 2, -ate 1) + -illo < Latin -illus diminutive suffix
Compare meaning
How does armadillo compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An armadillo is a four-legged animal with a rounded body that's covered in hard plates. You're most likely to see an armadillo in South or Central America, or possibly in the southern US. Armadillos range from the size of a chipmunk to as big as a large dog. They're nocturnal, so they mostly hunt for food at night and sleep during the day, and are excellent diggers, with very sharp claws. Armadillos are distinctive because of the bony plates that cover them and their protective habit of rolling into a ball. Armadillo is Spanish, the diminutive form of armado, or "armored."
Vocabulary lists containing armadillo
Amazing Animals, A-Z
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Amazing Animals, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Crenshaw
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Keepers of the six-banded armadillo pair, native to South America, celebrated the milestone on Monday.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026
The transmission mechanism between zoonotic reservoirs and susceptible individuals is unknown, but it is strongly suspected that direct contact with an infected armadillo poses a significant risk of developing leprosy.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2024
"Take a crocodile from modern day, and turn it into an armadillo," said Reyes.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 18, 2024
“The resultant architecture is like a spherical armadillo — shaped by the local climate — while opening and inviting the life of the Strip to enter and explore,” Ingels stated in the team’s news release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2024
The last speech, given by Robbie Kinkaid, was for an armadillo name Joe.
From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar
A zoo has marked the 19th birthday of a pair of armadillos this week.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026
Fish such as wolf fish, peacock bass, and South American lungfish were especially common, accompanied by reptiles including caimans and turtles, and mammals such as capybaras, pacas, and armadillos.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 30, 2025
The creature is related to current armadillos, anteaters and sloths, though in contrast to some of its relatives, Mylodon did not burrow or climb trees.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2024
Before this discovery, armadillos were considered to be the only living mammals with these structures.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 6, 2024
There are also raccoons, possums, and armadillos hanging around.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
