salamander

noun

sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsa-lə-ˌman-dər How to pronounce salamander (audio)
also ˌsa-lə-ˈman-
1
: a mythical animal having the power to endure fire without harm
2
: an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus inhabiting fire
3
: any of numerous amphibians (order Caudata or Urodela) superficially resembling lizards but scaleless and covered with a soft moist skin and breathing by gills in the larval stage
4
: an article used in connection with fire: such as
a
: a cooking utensil for browning a food (such as pastry or pudding)
b
: a portable stove
c
: a cooking device with an overhead heat source like a broiler
5
: a mass of unfused material (such as metallic iron or partially reduced ore) in the hearth of a blast furnace
6
: the pocket gophers (genus Geomys) of the southeastern U.S.
salamandrine adjective

Examples of salamander 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.
Gene editing developments at Colossal have also led to advances in fighting chytrid fungus, which is killing amphibians including frogs and salamanders in Australia – a potential fresh water threat that could spread globally. Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 Officials said the project could benefit the salamander by reconnecting habitat areas that have been separated by erosion. Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 The new map was like a jigsaw puzzle, with one district resembling a misshapen salamander. Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026 The word itself comes from Eldridge Gerry, who, while governor of Massachusetts in 1812, designed a voting district that supposedly looked like a salamander, hence gerrymander. Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for salamander

Word History

Etymology

Middle English salamandre "a reptile believed to live in fire," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin salamandra, borrowed from Greek salamándra, probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of salamander was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Salamander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salamander. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

salamander

noun
sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsal-ə-ˌman-dər How to pronounce salamander (audio)
1
: an imaginary creature not harmed by fire
2
: any of an order of amphibians that are covered with scaleless usually smooth moist skin and look like lizards

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