Are ammonites related to snails?

They are both molluscs, but ammonites are more closely related to modern squids and octopuses (cephalopods).

Why are ammonites important in geology?

They evolved rapidly and have distinct forms in different geological periods, making them excellent 'index fossils' for dating rocks.

How do you pronounce 'ammonites'?

In British English: /ˈæmənaɪts/. In American English: /ˈæməˌnaɪts/.

Can you find ammonites in the UK?

Yes, they are commonly found along the Jurassic Coast in southern England, especially in Dorset.

Is “ammonites” formal?

Ammonites is usually academic/technical in register.

ammonites: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/ˈæmənaɪts/US/ˈæməˌnaɪts/

Academic/Technical

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Quick answer

What does “ammonites” mean?

Extinct marine molluscs with coiled shells, common as fossils.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Extinct marine molluscs with coiled shells, common as fossils.

Fossilised remains of these creatures, often used in geology and palaeontology to date rock layers; also refers to a group of people mentioned in the Bible descended from Ammon.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.

Connotations

Neutral scientific/historical term in both varieties.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to specialist fields.

Grammar

How to Use “ammonites” in a Sentence

[subject] contains ammonitesammonites [verb] from [period][scientist] studies ammonites

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

fossil ammonitesammonites foundJurassic ammonites

medium

abundant ammonitescoiled ammonitesammonites indicate

weak

large ammonitesancient ammonitesstudy ammonites

Examples

Examples of “ammonites” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

The ammonite fossil was beautifully preserved.
We examined the ammonite specimen.

American English

The ammonite fossil was perfectly intact.
We analyzed the ammonite sample.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Common in geology, palaeontology, and archaeology papers.

Everyday

Rare, except when discussing fossils or museum visits.

Technical

Standard term in stratigraphy and fossil identification.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “ammonites”

Strong

ammonoids

Neutral

fossil shellscephalopod fossils

Weak

spiral fossilsancient molluscs

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “ammonites”

living molluscsmodern cephalopods

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “ammonites”

Misspelling as 'amonites' or 'ammonights'. Using as a singular ('an ammonites') instead of 'an ammonite'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: They are both molluscs, but ammonites are more closely related to modern squids and octopuses (cephalopods).
: They evolved rapidly and have distinct forms in different geological periods, making them excellent 'index fossils' for dating rocks.
: In British English: /ˈæmənaɪts/. In American English: /ˈæməˌnaɪts/.
: Yes, they are commonly found along the Jurassic Coast in southern England, especially in Dorset.
: Extinct marine molluscs with coiled shells, common as fossils.
: Ammonites is usually academic/technical in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“None”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine an AMONster (Ammon) with a coiled shell, now turned to stone (ite).

Conceptual Metaphor

Ammonites as 'stone clocks' for dating Earth's history.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Geologists use to determine the age of certain rock formations.

Multiple Choice

What are ammonites?