1
: a carnivorous medium- to large-sized bird (such as a hawk, eagle, owl, or vulture) that has a hooked beak and large sharp talons and that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : bird of prey
2
: a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (such as a velociraptor or deinonychus)
Examples of raptor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The app identified it as a Mississippi kite, a small raptor uncommon to northern Virginia.
—
Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
Pilot projects have even tested the use of raptors to catch rodents.
—Bydina Fine Maron, science.org, 10 July 2024
Her team will now work with the county’s raptor center to bring injured birds to them, providing 24/7 coverage to rescue raptors.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024
Dinosaurs in the raptor family do seem to be covered in early versions of feathers, as do some of T-rex’s ancestors – but not T-rex itself.
—New Atlas, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for raptor 
Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
Pilot projects have even tested the use of raptors to catch rodents.
—Bydina Fine Maron, science.org, 10 July 2024
Her team will now work with the county’s raptor center to bring injured birds to them, providing 24/7 coverage to rescue raptors.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024
Dinosaurs in the raptor family do seem to be covered in early versions of feathers, as do some of T-rex’s ancestors – but not T-rex itself.
—New Atlas, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for raptor
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'raptor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Raptor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raptor. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
raptor
noun
rap·tor
ˈrap-tər 
Etymology
Latin raptor "plunderer," from rapere "to seize"
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