newt

American  

[noot, nyoot] / nut, njut /

noun

newts plural

1. any of several brilliantly colored salamanders of the family Salamandridae, especially those of the genera Triturus and Notophthalmus, of North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

2. any of various other small salamanders.

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newt British  

/ njuːt /

noun

1. any of various small semiaquatic urodele amphibians, such as Triturus vulgaris ( common newt ) of Europe, having a long slender body and tail and short feeble legs

2. any other urodele amphibian, including the salamanders

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• newts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of newt

1375–1425; late Middle English newte, for ewte (the phrase an ewte being taken as a newte; cf. nickname), variant of evet, Old English efete eft ¹

Explanation

A newt is a small, brightly colored amphibian that spends part of its time on land and the rest in the water. A newt looks like a cross between a frog and a lizard. Newts are a type of salamander that primarily lives on land but also has gills that enable it to occasionally live an aquatic life. The word newt comes from an ewte, and the Old English efte, "small, lizard-like animal." These little lizard-like animals have four short legs, often with webbed toes, and dry skin. When out of the water, newts seek out shady areas where they can stay cool.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

newt newts

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a California newt waddling through Millard Canyon falls.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2025

Instead, he found a smooth newt, which went home with him.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2023

Here in the Pacific Northwest spring, tiger salamanders emerge from their fossorial homes to breed, and the poisonous rough-skinned newt accelerates its activities with the warming sun.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2023

A newt eager to get across a road was assisted by members of the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade in Marin County, Calif.Credit...

From New York Times ● Jan. 24, 2023

“I guess if we have to wait for the eye of newt and heart of toad to present themselves, we might as well get comfortable. What’d you bring?”

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Dagit said they recently found newt egg masses for the first time in years, as well as a few adult newts and many frogs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Volunteers at two sites in Wrexham - Ruthin Road and Brymbo - regularly give up their evenings between February and May to help gather and move toads, frogs and newts.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

Possibilities, subject to a public consultation, include badgers and otters as well as frogs, hedgehogs, barn owls and newts.

From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026

Residents objected, arguing the planned flood would destroy a local fish farm and harm several crested newts, which are also protected by law.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025

You’re not going to believe me, but I’ve had newts stop and stare.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

Related Words

• frog
• salamander
• toad