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

Illustration of alligator

• alligator 1

Examples of alligator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Situated near the Florida-Georgia line, the refuge provides is home to a variety of sportfish, along with waterfowl, deer, black bears, and an abundance of alligators and other amphibians. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 8 Jan. 2025

Surrounded by Apalachicola Bay and Saint Vincent Sound on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, the barrier island is flush with wildlife, from migratory birds to alligators to multiple varieties of sea turtles. —Kara Franker, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025

But by modeling a virtual T. rex population, using information from modern alligators to outline variation between individuals and growth, a new Ecology and Evolution study anticipates that some T. rex were likely up to 70 percent more massive than any found so far. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024

The first was for the American alligator, and Louisiana is the first state to do so with two species. —Jacob Mathews | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish el lagarto the lizard, from el the (from Latin ille that) + lagarto lizard, from Vulgar Latin *lacartus, from Latin lacertus, lacerta — more at lizard

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alligator

• alligator clip
• alligator pear
• alligator snapper
• alligator snapping turtle

Kids 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"