T. rex

American  

[tee reks] / ˈti ˈreks /

noun

1. tyrannosaur.

---

Usage

What is a T. rex? T. rex is short for Tyrannosaurus rex, a giant, meat-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs and had a long tail and a big head with sharp teeth (and, yes, two little arms).The name Tyrannosaurus rex comes from the Greek words tyranno (“tyrant”) and saurus (“lizard”) and the Latin word rex (“king”). So, Tyrannosaurus rex means something like “king of the tyrant lizards.” It is commonly called T. rex for short.The name is fitting: Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the largest land predators that has ever lived. It was the largest of the tyrannosaurs, reaching a length of 47 feet (14.3 m) or more.People often list the T. rex as their favorite dinosaur, and its popularity has grown through many pop culture depictions, such as its appearances in the Jurassic Park series of movies and books. However, to be scientifically precise about it, the T. rex lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 90–65 million years ago, around the end of the age of dinosaurs.

Etymology

Origin of T. rex

First recorded in 1980–85; abbreviation of Tyrannosaurus rex ( def. )

Example Sentences

A tridimensional T. rex protrudes from Iñaki Godoy’s head while he holds a small plush toy of Monkey D. Luffy, the character who changed his life forever.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Rather than maturing quickly, T. rex experienced a prolonged growth phase lasting roughly four decades.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026

The study, published in the journal PeerJ, represents the most detailed reconstruction of the life history of T. rex so far.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026

I can’t be unwillingly subjected to someone “experimenting” with a “Jurassic World Rebirth” T. rex on my timeline.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

So the T. rex, which they named Banana Teeth, and Trip, the triceratops, each got their own room on the seventh floor.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty