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

Now we’re on Vegas World; now we’re on Jurassic Planet; now we’re on a planet ruled by a gigantic queen bee.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The show saw Wicked and Jurassic Park star Goldblum talking about his new album, Night Blooms, the latest offering from his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

"That's your Jurassic Park moment... one to remember for a lifetime."

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

A remarkably complete skeleton uncovered along the UK's Jurassic Coast has been identified as a previously unknown species of ichthyosaur -- a group of prehistoric marine reptiles that once dominated the world's oceans.

From Science Daily • Feb. 24, 2026

"My mom called. She's—how can I put this? Do you remember the T. rex in Jurassic Park? She makes him look serene. She's that kind of angry."

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi