armadillo

American  

[ahr-muh-dil-oh] / ˌɑr məˈdɪl oʊ /

noun

plural

armadillos

1. any of several burrowing, chiefly nocturnal mammals constituting the family Dasypodidae, ranging from the southern U.S. through South America, having strong claws and a jointed protective covering of bony plates: used in certain areas for food.

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armadillo British  

/ ˌɑːməˈdɪləʊ /

noun

1. any edentate mammal of the family Dasypodidae of Central and South America and S North America, such as Priodontes giganteus ( giant armadillo ). They are burrowing animals, with peglike rootless teeth and a covering of strong horny plates over most of the body

2. another name for pichiciego

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Etymology

Origin of armadillo

1570–80; < Spanish, equivalent to armad ( o ) armed (< Latin armātus; arm ², -ate ¹ ) + -illo < Latin -illus diminutive suffix

Compare meaning

How does armadillo compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aardvark vs. armadillo

Example Sentences

Keepers of the six-banded armadillo pair, native to South America, celebrated the milestone on Monday.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

It’s not a lazy river or an interactive armadillo zoo, but it’s a start.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2025

The transmission mechanism between zoonotic reservoirs and susceptible individuals is unknown, but it is strongly suspected that direct contact with an infected armadillo poses a significant risk of developing leprosy.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2024

"Take a crocodile from modern day, and turn it into an armadillo," said Reyes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2024

I looked at the books, the armadillo, the bottled beast.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly