tuatara

noun

tu·​a·​ta·​ra ˌtü-ə-ˈtär-ə How to pronounce tuatara (audio)
plural tuatara or tuataras
: a large spiny quadrupedal reptile (Sphenodon punctatus) of islands off the coast of New Zealand that has a vestigial third eye in the middle of the forehead representing the pineal gland and that is the only surviving rhynchocephalian

Illustration of tuatara

Illustration of tuatara

Examples of tuatara in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The tuataras, a New Zealand reptile, can live to be 100, as can a crocodile. — B. R. Cohen, Longreads, 13 Jan. 2026 The audio recordings used in the research document the tuatara’s distinctive crackly vocalizations. — Zoe Sottile, CNN, 13 Nov. 2022 Similar in appearance to a stout, stocky iguana, this species — commonly called a tuatara — forms one of the only avenues for scientists to study the winnowing down of the rhynchocephalians. — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022 Predators introduced by waves of human settlers have eliminated tuatara in much of their original habitat, which once spanned all of mainland New Zealand. — Elizabeth Preston, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tuatara

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Maori

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tuatara was in 1890

Rhymes for tuatara

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Browse Nearby Words

tuart
tuatara
tuath
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Cite this Entry

“Tuatara.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuatara. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tuatara

noun
tu·​a·​ta·​ra ˌtü-ə-ˈtär-ə How to pronounce tuatara (audio)
: a large spiny reptile of the islands off the coast of New Zealand that looks like a lizard

More from Merriam-Webster on tuatara

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tuatara

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