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Dinosaur vocabulary words for kids

This list gathers vocabulary for talking about dinosaurs, covering fossil terms like excavate and paleontologist, body words like talon and scale, and diet words like herbivore and carnivore. It suits young dinosaur fans and students studying prehistoric life in school or at home.

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Dinosaur vocabulary words for kids

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
fossilnounThe preserved remains or traces of an ancient plant or animal, typically found in rock.Paleontologists discovered a dinosaur fossil embedded deep within the cliffside rock.
extinctadjectiveNo longer existing, especially describing a species that has died out completely.The dodo became extinct within a century of humans arriving on its island.
herbivorenounAn animal that feeds mainly or entirely on plants.Deer are herbivores that graze on grasses, leaves, and young shoots.
carnivorenounAn animal that feeds mainly or entirely on the flesh of other animals.Lions are carnivores that hunt in coordinated groups across the savanna.
omnivorenounAn animal or person that eats both plants and animals.Bears are omnivores, eating everything from berries to fish and small mammals.
predatornounAn animal that hunts and kills other animals for food.The lion is a top predator that hunts across the open savanna.
preynounAn animal that is hunted and killed by another animal for food.The zebra became easy prey once it strayed from the herd.
reptilenounA cold-blooded animal with scaly skin that typically lays eggs, such as a snake, lizard, or turtle.The zoo's reptile house features snakes, lizards, and a giant tortoise.
skeletonnounThe internal framework of bones that supports and protects the body of a vertebrate.The museum displayed a full dinosaur skeleton in the main hall.
excavateverbTo dig into the ground to expose or remove something, often as part of construction or archaeology.Archaeologists spent months excavating the ancient temple buried beneath the desert sand.
paleontologistnounA scientist who studies fossils to understand ancient life and the history of the Earth.The paleontologist carefully brushed dirt away from the dinosaur bones buried in the cliffside.
Jurassicproper nounThe geologic period lasting from about 201 to 145 million years ago, known for dominant dinosaurs.Fossils from the Jurassic period show enormous long-necked dinosaurs roaming ancient forests.
Cretaceousproper nounThe geologic period from about 145 to 66 million years ago, the last period of the Mesozoic Era, ending with the extinction of the dinosaurs.Fossils from the Cretaceous period reveal a wide variety of flowering plants.
Triassicproper nounThe geological period from about 252 to 201 million years ago, the first period of the Mesozoic era.The earliest dinosaurs appeared during the Triassic period.
eranounA long and distinct period of time marked by particular events, developments, or characteristics.The invention of the printing press marked the beginning of a new era in communication.
speciesnounA group of living organisms that share common characteristics and can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.Scientists discovered a new species of frog deep in the rainforest.
habitatnounThe place and conditions in which an organism normally lives.The hedgerow provides habitat for nesting birds.
camouflagenounColoring or patterns that help a person, animal, or object blend into its surroundings.The soldier's camouflage made him nearly invisible against the dense brush.
talonnounA sharp, curved claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey.The eagle sank its talons into the fish the instant it broke the water's surface.
clawnounA sharp, curved nail on the foot of an animal, used for gripping, digging, or attacking.The cat extended its claws as it batted playfully at the toy.
fangnounA long, sharp, pointed tooth used by an animal to bite, grip, or inject venom.The snake sank its fangs into the mouse before swallowing it whole.
scalenounThe relative size or extent of something, especially in comparison to something else.The scale of the disaster became clear only after aerial footage was released.
tailnounThe rear part of an animal's body, often long and flexible, extending beyond its trunk.The dog wagged its tail excitedly the moment it saw its owner at the door.
giantnounAn imaginary or legendary being of human form but of enormous size and strength.In the old tale, a giant guarded the castle at the top of the beanstalk.
prehistoricadjectiveRelating to the very distant past, before humans began keeping written historical records.The museum displayed the bones of a prehistoric creature that lived millions of years ago.
extinctionnounThe complete disappearance of a species or type of thing from existence.Habitat loss is pushing many rainforest species toward extinction.
sedimentnounSolid material, such as sand, silt, or mud, that settles at the bottom of a liquid.A thin layer of sediment had built up at the bottom of the old fish tank.
ambernounA hard, translucent fossilized tree resin, typically yellowish-orange, used in jewelry.The museum displayed a piece of amber with an insect trapped inside it.
bonenounOne of the hard, rigid structures that form the skeleton of a vertebrate animal.The X-ray showed a small fracture in the bone just above her wrist.
evolveverbTo develop gradually over time, especially through a natural process of change.The company's product evolved from a simple app into a full software platform.

Words for dinosaur diet and discovery

Some words here describe what dinosaurs ate, such as herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore, while others describe how we learn about them today, like fossil, excavate, sediment, and paleontologist. A third group names the eras dinosaurs lived in, including triassic, jurassic, and cretaceous. Learning these groups together builds a fuller picture of prehistoric life.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a herbivore and a carnivore dinosaur?

A herbivore dinosaur ate only plants, while a carnivore dinosaur hunted and ate other animals.