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.

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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

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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

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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

A 2025 Nature study added even more context by describing a Middle Jurassic squamate from Scotland with a striking mix of lizard-like and snake-like traits.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

His work, published in Papers in Palaeontology, offers new insight into how dinosaurs rose to dominance during the Jurassic period.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

The Oscar-nominated director and Jurassic Park star is undertaking his first UK tour with his jazz band The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and will be at The Halls on 28 May.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The valley spreads out in front of you in what has to be one of England’s finest views, all the way to the golden cliffs of the Jurassic Coast.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

All of Jurassic Park could be directly below me, and I’d never get close—not without dynamite.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman