Illustration of alligator
- alligator 1
alligator
noun
al·li·ga·tor
ˈa-lə-ˌgā-tər 
1
: either of two large carnivorous, thick-skinned, long-bodied, aquatic, crocodilian reptiles (Alligator mississippiensis of the southeastern U.S. and A. sinensis of China) that have a broad head with a slightly tapered, long, rounded, U-shaped snout and a special pocket in the upper jaw for reception of the enlarged lower fourth tooth
broadly
: crocodilian
2
: leather made from alligator hide
Examples of alligator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Authorities with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded soon after, and a licensed trapper removed the alligator from the waterbody and relocated it.
—
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Apr. 2024
Photos posted on MacDill AFB's Facebook page Monday morning show the big alligator resting underneath a large plane in between its tires.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
The clip continues with the officers grabbing the reptile with two leashes and wrapping them around the alligator's abdomen, but the gator wriggles and resists.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Officials said that Cavallaro had a license to own the alligator that expired in 2021.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2024
That’s higher than that of crocodiles and alligators, about the same as modern mammals and a bit lower than most birds, whose bodies can regularly get as warm as 104 F (40 C).
—Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
The authorities quickly removed the alligator from Hollenback's house.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
The voracious Burmese python has done widespread damage to the Everglades food chain, pretty much wiping out populations of small mammals like marsh bunnies and gulping down everything from birds to alligators.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
On her wrist, Olsen toted a Lady Bag in black alligator.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Apr. 2024
Photos posted on MacDill AFB's Facebook page Monday morning show the big alligator resting underneath a large plane in between its tires.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
The clip continues with the officers grabbing the reptile with two leashes and wrapping them around the alligator's abdomen, but the gator wriggles and resists.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Officials said that Cavallaro had a license to own the alligator that expired in 2021.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2024
That’s higher than that of crocodiles and alligators, about the same as modern mammals and a bit lower than most birds, whose bodies can regularly get as warm as 104 F (40 C).
—Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
The authorities quickly removed the alligator from Hollenback's house.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
The voracious Burmese python has done widespread damage to the Everglades food chain, pretty much wiping out populations of small mammals like marsh bunnies and gulping down everything from birds to alligators.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
On her wrist, Olsen toted a Lady Bag in black alligator.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alligator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Alligator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alligator. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alligator
noun
al·li·ga·tor
ˈal-ə-ˌgāt-ər
1
: either of two large short-legged reptiles resembling crocodiles but having a shorter and broader snout
2
: leather made from alligator's hide
Etymology
from Spanish el lagarto "the lizard"
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