Jurassic

American  

[joo-ras-ik] / dʒʊˈræs ɪk /

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a period of the Mesozoic Epoch, occurring from 190 to 140 million years ago and characterized by an abundance of dinosaurs and the advent of birds and mammals.

---

noun

1. the Jurassic Period or System.

Jurassic British  

/ dʒʊˈræsɪk /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the second period of the Mesozoic era, between the Triassic and Cretaceous periods, lasting for 55 million years during which dinosaurs and ammonites flourished

---

noun

1. the Jurassic period or rock system

Jurassic Scientific  

/ j-răs′ĭk /

1. The second and middle period of the Mesozoic Era, from about 208 to 144 million years ago. During this time the supercontinent Pangaea continued to split up and numerous shallow seas inundated the new continents. Dinosaurs were the dominant form of terrestrial animal life, and the earliest birds appeared. Marine life was dominated by ammonites and belemnites, and sponges, corals, bryozoa, and gastropods all flourished. Gymnosperms and cycads were the dominant land plants.

2. See Chart at geologic time

---

Other Word Forms

• post-Jurassic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Jurassic

First recorded in 1825–35; Jur(a) + -assic, suffix extracted from Triassic; compare French jurassique

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Jurassic

Paleontologists have identified the first known evidence of Diplodocus outside North America, a discovery that changes scientists' understanding of where the iconic dinosaur lived during the Late Jurassic.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

On a summer morning before the heat set in, he pointed out the spot where his flock of over a dozen birds once roamed, strutting across the sand like remnants of the Jurassic era.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

A lifelong fan of the Jurassic Park movies, Suravech joked that his work lacks Hollywood's deep pockets.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

Sam Adams writes that the cosmic horror blockbuster is a satisfying throwback to Jurassic Park.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

For these are the last remaining members of a race that flourished over four continents as far back in geologic time as the upper Jurassic period.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck