Illustration of tadpole
- tadpole in stages
: a larval amphibian
specifically
: a frog or toad larva that has a rounded body with a long tail bordered by fins and external gills soon replaced by internal gills and that undergoes a metamorphosis to the adult
Examples of tadpole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For tadpoles, ingestion is almost unavoidable.
—
Ryan Brennan
may 12, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
How does microplastic pollution affect wildlife like tadpoles?
—Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
In Central Africa, goliath frogs—the world’s largest—have been found to push gravel and stones around to dam waterways and create peaceful ponds where their eggs and tadpoles will be safe from predators and rising water levels.
—Ryan Huling, Time, 7 May 2026
Unlike most amphibians, which start life in water and then move onto land as adults — such as a tadpole transforming into a frog — axolotls never go through that full change.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tadpole
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.
Ryan Brennan
may 12, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
How does microplastic pollution affect wildlife like tadpoles?
—Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
In Central Africa, goliath frogs—the world’s largest—have been found to push gravel and stones around to dam waterways and create peaceful ponds where their eggs and tadpoles will be safe from predators and rising water levels.
—Ryan Huling, Time, 7 May 2026
Unlike most amphibians, which start life in water and then move onto land as adults — such as a tadpole transforming into a frog — axolotls never go through that full change.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tadpole
Cite this Entry
“Tadpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tadpole. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tadpole
noun
tad·pole
ˈtad-ˌpōl 
: the larva of a frog or toad that has a rounded body and a long tail, breathes with gills, and lives in water
called also pollywog
Etymology
Middle English taddepol "tadpole," from tode "toad" and polle "head"
Word Origin
A young tadpole looks like a large head with a tail. In time it will develop back legs and then front legs. Finally it will lose its tail and become a toad or a frog. Our word for this immature form of a toad or frog comes from Middle English taddepol. This word was a combination of two others, tode, meaning "toad," and polle, meaning "head."
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
