Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

squamate

American  
[skwey-meyt] / ˈskweɪ meɪt /

adjective

  1. provided or covered with squamae or scales; scaly.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of squamate

From the Late Latin word squāmātus, dating back to 1820–30. See squama, -ate 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The authors found that early squamate evolution involved a great deal of anatomical experimentation and convergent evolution, which helps explain why the earliest snake story has been so difficult to untangle from fossils alone.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

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

They said Cryptovaranoides was clearly a squamate because it differed from the Rhynchocephalia in several key areas, including the braincase, in the neck vertebrae and in the shoulder area.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2022

Trogonophidan amphisbaenians eat surface-dwelling squamate prey; trogonophidans take to eating other trogonophidans.

From Scientific American • Apr. 1, 2013

I didn’t think we had any squamate egg fossils.

From Scientific American • May 15, 2012

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "squamate" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com