cryptid

American  

[krip-tid] / ˈkrɪp tɪd /

noun

1. a creature whose reported existence is unproved, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster: the subject of cryptozoology.

   The most famous evidence for Bigfoot is film footage shot in 1967 that purports to show the cryptid running through the woods.

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Etymology

Origin of cryptid

First recorded in 1980–85; crypt(o)- ( def. ) + -id ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cryptid

He returned with a snippet of film documenting one of the most notorious cryptid sightings in history—a fleeting, jittery glimpse of a hairy figure crossing a riverbank.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

One guess is that as an up-and-coming cryptid, the Mothman has a particularly strong appeal to younger and more progressive people.

From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2024

A 2018 bill in the Washington state Legislature proposed to designate Sasquatch as the official state cryptid but was never passed.

From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2024

Even the staunchest Sasquatch skeptics will develop a new appreciation for our region’s most galvanizing and controversial cryptid after listening to these thoughtful audiobooks.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 10, 2023

Since then, a few Wikipedia volunteers have proceeded to take a hatchet to the list, developing a far more limited inclusion criteria for what meets the cryptid definition.

From Slate ● Feb. 13, 2023