Tyrannosaurus rex
Americannoun
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Tyrannosaurus rexes
plural
Usage
What is a Tyrannosaurus rex? Tyrannosaurus rex was 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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Tyrannosaurus rex
First recorded in 1905–10; New Latin Tyrannosaurus, the genus name; see tyrannosaur ( def. ) + Latin rex “king”; see rex ( def. )
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.
If you’ve been to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, you’ve probably been wowed by the fossilized remains of Thomas, the formidable 34-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex dominating the Dinosaur Hall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed "Gus" sold Tuesday for $50.1 million at Sotheby's in New York, making it the most valuable dinosaur fossil bought at auction after a 10-minute battle between seven bidders.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
One of the world's most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, nicknamed "Gus," was showcased Wednesday at Sotheby's auction house in New York ahead of its sale later this month.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
For decades, scientists have used these rings to reconstruct the life history of Tyrannosaurus rex.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 2026
Kind of like a Tyrannosaurus rex combined with an airplane, if an airplane flapped its wings really hard.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
