Definition

A type of animal that has a hard outer shell, a body divided into segments, and jointed legs. This group includes insects, spiders, and crabs.

Example

The garden was full of different arthropods, such as butterflies and beetles.

Conversation

Did you know that a spider is an arthropod?

Really? I always thought they were just creepy crawlers.

Yeah, it's interesting how many different types of arthropods there are.

For sure! I love learning about all the different insects too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Arthropod → It is formed from "arthro-" (from Greek "arthron", meaning joint) and "-pod" (from Greek "pous", meaning foot). The word "arthropod" refers to animals that have jointed legs or appendages, such as insects and crustaceans.

Memory Tip

Think of 'joints' ('arthro-') and 'feet' ('-pod') to remember that arthropods are creatures with jointed legs.

Visually Confused Words