iguana

noun

igua·​na i-ˈgwä-nə How to pronounce iguana (audio)
: any of various large chiefly herbivorous usually green or brownish tropical American lizards (family Iguanidae, the iguana family) that have a serrated dorsal crest and large dewlap
broadly : any of various large lizards

Illustration of iguana

Illustration of iguana

Examples of iguana 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.
Goode needed no persuading about the beauty of animals like New Caledonian geckos, African bush vipers, Caribbean rock iguanas, and similar Cyclura. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026 Molt agreed—and according to Crutchfield, Molt took his revenge by killing the iguanas. — Rory Doherty, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 Burmese pythons have wiped out 87% to 99% of native mammal populations in parts of the Everglades, and green iguanas tear up landscaping and burrow into seawalls, weakening infrastructure. — Laurie Mermet, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Video shows the moment Roderick Duncan opened the box containing his new pet, a green iguana that measures almost 6 feet long, inside a FedEx store in Memphis, Tennessee. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for iguana

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Arawak & Carib iwana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of iguana was in 1555

Phrases Containing iguana

Rhymes for iguana

See All Rhymes for iguana

Browse Nearby Words

Iguaçú
iguana
iguanid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Iguana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iguana. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

iguana

noun
igua·​na i-ˈgwän-ə How to pronounce iguana (audio)
: any of various large plant-eating tropical American lizards that have a ridge of tall scales along the middle of the back and loose skin hanging below the neck

More from Merriam-Webster on iguana

Nglish: Translation of iguana for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about iguana

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