crocodile

American  

[krok-uh-dahyl] / ˈkrɒk əˌdaɪl /

noun

• crocodiles
  plural

1. any of several crocodilians of the genus Crocodylus, found in sluggish waters and swamps of the tropics.

2. any reptile of the order Crocodylia; crocodilian.

3. the tanned skin or hide of these animals, used in the manufacture of luggage and accessories, as belts, shoes, and wallets.

4. Chiefly British. a file of people, especially schoolchildren, out for a walk.

5. Archaic. a person who makes a hypocritical show of sorrow.

---

crocodile British  

/ ˈkrɒkəˌdaɪl /

noun

1. any large tropical reptile, such as C. niloticus ( African crocodile ), of the family Crocodylidae: order Crocodilia (crocodilians). They have a broad head, tapering snout, massive jaws, and a thick outer covering of bony plates

2. any other reptile of the order Crocodilia; a crocodilian

3. 1. leather made from the skin of any of these animals

   2. ( as modifier )

      crocodile shoes

4. informal a line of people, esp schoolchildren, walking two by two

---

Usage

What’s the difference between crocodiles and alligators? Crocodiles and alligators are both large, lizardlike reptiles known for their large, powerful jaws and sharp teeth, their long tails, and their thick, plated skin. However, you can tell them apart through some physical differences. Crocodiles are often lighter in color and have a narrower snout. Alligators are typically darker and have broader snout. When they’re in the water, crocodiles typically hold the top of their head out of the water. In contrast, alligators typically lurk under the surface, with only their eyes visible. When alligators’ jaws are closed, only their upper teeth are visible, but both the upper and lower teeth of crocodiles are visible when their jaws are closed. Crocodiles live in tropical areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. Alligators mainly live in the southeastern U. S. and eastern China. The only place that wild alligators and crocodiles have been documented as inhabiting the same area is in south Florida. Taxonomically speaking, crocodiles and alligators are not only different species, they also belong to a different genus (crocodiles belong to the genus Crocodylus, while alligators belong to the genus Alligator). Still, they both belong to the order Crocodylia, which means they can both be called crocodilians. Here’s an example of crocodile and alligator used correctly in a sentence. Example: Florida is known for its population of alligators, although a few crocodiles also live in the extreme south. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between crocodiles and alligators.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crocodiloid
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crocodiles
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of crocodile

1250–1300; < Latin crocodīlus < Greek krokódeilos crocodile, originally a kind of lizard, said to be equivalent to krók ( ē ) pebble + -o- -o- + drîlos, dreîlos worm (though attested only in sense “penis”), with r lost by dissimilation replacing Middle English cocodrille < Medieval Latin cocodrilus

---

Explanation

A crocodile is an enormous reptile that has a long mouth lined with sharp teeth. Crocodiles live in and out of the water, preying on fish, birds, lizards, and mammals, snapping them between their powerful jaws. Although crocodiles and alligators are related, they're from separate biological families and look slightly different from each other. Crocodiles have narrower heads and more pointed snouts — and even when their mouths are closed, you can still see all 80 of their teeth. They're carnivores that feed on everything from molluscs to large mammals, including buffalo, deer, and wildebeest. Crocodile has a Greek root, krokódilos, or "lizard."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crocodile crocodiles

But for an intentionally outrageous film like “The Devils,” where Reed hurls a plastic crocodile out of a window, rules can be relaxed.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

Some of its guests watched models carry crocodile handbags down the runway.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

"Event planning must therefore assume that a crocodile sighting is possible… No natural waterway in crocodile country can be guaranteed to be crocodile-free."

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

"Personally, I'm not fearful of the Australian animals but I've never had a crocodile near me," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The crocodile was a fearsome, but cautious, beast.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Paleontologists have not found fossils of lizards, turtles, crocodiles, or other reptiles from Cretaceous Alaska, Chiarenza said.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris played down the issue of crocodiles last year.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Saltwater crocodiles - known locally as Salties - live in both freshwater and saltwater and can grow to be in excess of six metres long.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The researchers also found that the animal lacked the high caudal fin seen in modern crocodiles.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

Women had to draw drinking water straight from the river, while they clucked their tongues and told stories of women fallen to crocodiles in other dry years, which were never as dry as this one.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• assailant
• thief
• thug

---