What does "placoderm" mean?
A member of an extinct paraphyletic class (Placodermi) of jawed fish with armored heads and thoraces; the group lived during the Silurian and Devonian periods.
Placoderm
adj, noun
adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of an extinct paraphyletic class (Placodermi) of jawed fish with armored heads and thoraces; the group lived during the Silurian and Devonian periods.
- Grammar: placoderm is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: armored fish, gnathostome, jawed fish.
- Useful contrasts: jawless fish, unarmored fish.
- Usage evidence: Out to sea are placoderms – heavily armoured fish, some of them more than six metres (twenty feet) long and equipped with massive, powerful jaws.
How to use "placoderm"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "placoderm" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "placoderm" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "placoderm" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "placoderm" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "placoderm" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "armored fish" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "placoderm", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of an extinct paraphyletic class (Placodermi) of jawed fish with armored heads and thoraces; the group lived during the Silurian and Devonian periods.
"Out to sea are placoderms – heavily armoured fish, some of them more than six metres (twenty feet) long and equipped with massive, powerful jaws."
- 2 fish-like vertebrate with bony plates on head and upper body; dominant in seas and rivers during the Devonian; considered the earliest vertebrate with jaws wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to the paraphyletic class Placodermi.
"Research published recently on placoderm fish fossils from Scottish Devonian lakes (around 365 myo) found evidence for how this extinct group of animals copulated."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
jawless fishunarmored fish
Example
"Out to sea are placoderms – heavily armoured fish, some of them more than six metres (twenty feet) long and equipped with massive, powerful jaws."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "placoderm"?
Common synonyms include: armored fish, gnathostome, jawed fish.
How do you use "placoderm" in a sentence?
Out to sea are placoderms – heavily armoured fish, some of them more than six metres (twenty feet) long and equipped with massive, powerful jaws.
Etymology
From placo- + -derm, after German Placoderm.