Illustration of armadillo
armadillo
noun
ar·ma·dil·lo
ˌär-mə-ˈdi-(ˌ)lō 
plural armadillos
: any of a family (Dasypodidae) of burrowing edentate mammals found from the southern U.S. to Argentina and having the body and head encased in an armor of small bony plates
Examples of armadillo in a Sentence
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While giant ground sloths, armadillos and even terror birds wandered to the north, fossil elephants called gomphotheres were among the many animal groups to expand into South America.
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Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
Researchers say that the abundance of horses at the site hints at what the landscape looked like around 500,000 years ago, while the assemblage as a whole — with armadillos, sloths, and tapirs as well as horses — reveals the trajectories of evolution throughout the period.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
Armadillos The armadillo was brought to the state in the 19th century from South America.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Coyotes, hogs, and bobcats will eat them, but for the most part armadillos have it pretty easy.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
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Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
Researchers say that the abundance of horses at the site hints at what the landscape looked like around 500,000 years ago, while the assemblage as a whole — with armadillos, sloths, and tapirs as well as horses — reveals the trajectories of evolution throughout the period.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
Armadillos The armadillo was brought to the state in the 19th century from South America.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Coyotes, hogs, and bobcats will eat them, but for the most part armadillos have it pretty easy.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for armadillo
Cite this Entry
“Armadillo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armadillo. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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armadillo
noun
ar·ma·dil·lo
ˌär-mə-ˈdil-ō
plural armadillos
: any of several small burrowing mammals of warm parts of the Americas whose head and body are protected by hard bony armor
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