acanthodian

A1C3A1N1T1H4O1D2I1A1N1
US/ˌæk.n̩ˈθoʊ.di.n̩/

noun

A member of a group of extinct fish (Acanthodii) that existed from the Silurian to the Permian period.

First used First attested in the mid 19th century.Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounacanthodian (plural acanthodians)

plural acanthodians · alternative acanthodean

  1. biologyA member of a group of extinct fish (Acanthodii) that existed from the Silurian to the Permian period.First known use First attested in the mid 19th century.

    The emerging picture of acanthodian (and perhaps placoderm) paraphyly does not overturn a general consensus about gnathostome interrelationships.

    2009 January 15, Martin D. Brazeau, “The braincase and jaws of a Devonian 'acanthodian' and modern gnathostome origins”, Nature Volume 457 No. 7227, doi:10.1038/nature07436
adjectiveacanthodian (not comparable)

alternative acanthodean

  1. not comparablePertaining to Acanthodii.First known use First attested in the mid 19th century.

Origin

From taxonomic name Acanthodii + English -ian.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese acantódio
  • acantódiomember of a group of extinct fish

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with acanthodian

custodiannickelodeoncollodionmelodeonallodianmelodionrhodiansodian
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

acanthodian. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acanthodian

MLA

“acanthodian.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acanthodian. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acanthodian,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acanthodian.

Source: acanthodian on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.