amphibious
adjective
am·phib·i·ous am-ˈfi-bē-əs 
1
: combining two characteristics
2
a
: relating to or adapted for both land and water
amphibious vehicles
b
: executed by coordinated action of land, sea, and air forces organized for invasion
an amphibious landing
also : trained or organized for such action
amphibious forces
3
: able to live both on land and in water
amphibious plants
amphibiously adverb
amphibiousness noun
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web On July 12, 2020, a fire started on the amphibious assault ship as it was moored at Naval Base San Diego and raged for more than four days. 
Megan Rose, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 With the apparent capture of the Ukrainian fleet’s sole amphibious ship, a landing force might have to come by helicopter. David Axe, Forbes, 7 May 2022 The USS Mount Whitney, a Blue Ridge class amphibious command ship previously part of the Navy’s African and European 6th Fleet, will join the task force, Cooper said. Samy Magdy, ajc, 16 Apr. 2022 Seaman Recruit Ryan Mays, 20, faces two counts in military court for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard the amphibious assault ship as the fire burned for five days and sent acrid smoke wafting over San Diego. Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2022 Ryan Mays faces two counts in military court for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard the amphibious assault ship as the fire burned for five days and sent acrid smoke wafting over San Diego. CBS News, 25 Feb. 2022 Among the ships are two submarines, nine littoral combat ships, five cruisers, and six amphibious ships, according to U.S. Naval Institute News. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2022 The yard builds commercial and Navy ships, and performs major repairs and upgrades on Navy vessels, including amphibious assault ships, the second-largest type of combatant in the Navy. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2022 The Black Fleet's currently limited effectiveness undermines Russia's overall invasion strategy, in part because the amphibious threat to Odesa has now been largely neutralized. Peter Weber, The Week, 18 Aug. 2022 See More
Megan Rose, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 With the apparent capture of the Ukrainian fleet’s sole amphibious ship, a landing force might have to come by helicopter. David Axe, Forbes, 7 May 2022 The USS Mount Whitney, a Blue Ridge class amphibious command ship previously part of the Navy’s African and European 6th Fleet, will join the task force, Cooper said. Samy Magdy, ajc, 16 Apr. 2022 Seaman Recruit Ryan Mays, 20, faces two counts in military court for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard the amphibious assault ship as the fire burned for five days and sent acrid smoke wafting over San Diego. Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2022 Ryan Mays faces two counts in military court for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard the amphibious assault ship as the fire burned for five days and sent acrid smoke wafting over San Diego. CBS News, 25 Feb. 2022 Among the ships are two submarines, nine littoral combat ships, five cruisers, and six amphibious ships, according to U.S. Naval Institute News. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2022 The yard builds commercial and Navy ships, and performs major repairs and upgrades on Navy vessels, including amphibious assault ships, the second-largest type of combatant in the Navy. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2022 The Black Fleet's currently limited effectiveness undermines Russia's overall invasion strategy, in part because the amphibious threat to Odesa has now been largely neutralized. Peter Weber, The Week, 18 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin amphibius "living both on land and in water" (borrowed from Greek amphíbios "living a double life, living both on land and in the water," from amphi- amphi- + -bios "having such a mode of life," derivative of bíos "life") + -ous — more at quick entry 1
First Known Use
1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
amphibious
adjective
am·phib·i·ous am-ˈfi-bē-əs
1
: able to live both on land and in water
amphibious animals
2
: meant to be used on both land and water
amphibious vehicles
3
: made by land, sea, and air forces acting together
amphibious attack