English Reference

Word

croc

/ˈkɹɑk/

Definition

n. a short, informal way to say 'croc' or 'crocodile'. You use this when talking about the animal in a casual way.

n. a shortened, informal form of 'crocodile'. Used primarily in casual conversation or as a nickname for the animal.

Examples

“We saw a croc swimming in the river.”

“The tour guide warned us to stay on the path because a croc might be nearby.”

“While the term 'croc' is common in casual speech, it is often replaced by the more formal 'crocodile' in scientific or legal documents regarding wildlife protection.”

Examples

simple

“We saw a croc swimming in the river.”

contextual

“The tour guide warned us to stay on the path because a croc might be nearby.”

complex

“While the term 'croc' is common in casual speech, it is often replaced by the more formal 'crocodile' in scientific or legal documents regarding wildlife protection.”

Real-World Examples

“He was last seen wearing a dark Adidas track jacket, dark pants, Crocs and a black Fox Racing baseball cap.”
Toronto Sun · 14 Sept 2026

Etymology

Clipping of crocodile.

From the American shoe company Crocs, Inc., reportedly named for the shoe's resemblance in profile to a crocodile snout or the "multi-environment, amphibious nature" of the animal.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference