salamander

noun

sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsa-lə-ˌman-dər 

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

ˌsa-lə-ˈman-drən 

adjective

Examples of salamander in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Why can some organisms (like planaria or salamanders) regenerate limbs, while others cannot? — Junsu Kang, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Those details can help scientists trace traits associated with frogs and salamanders much further back in time. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026

The early amphibian is described in a study published today in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, and is an example of how some of the classic traits seen in today’s living frogs and salamanders evolved. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026

According to the Louisville Zoo, after many Kentucky and Indiana streams were dammed decades ago, water health has declined at the expense of local ecosystems, putting pressure on the struggling salamanders. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing salamander

• spotted salamander
• tiger salamander

Rhymes for salamander

• coriander
• oleander
• brander
• candor
• dander
• gander
• grander
• hander
• laender
• lander
• pander
• sander

Kids Definition

salamander

noun

sal·​a·​man·​der ˈsal-ə-ˌman-dər 

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