manatee

noun

man·​a·​tee ˈma-nə-ˌtē 

: any of a genus (Trichechus of the family Trichechidae) of large, herbivorous, aquatic mammals that inhabit warm coastal and inland waters of the southeastern U.S., West Indies, northern South America, and West Africa and have a rounded body, a small head with a squarish snout, paddle-shaped flippers usually with vestigial nails, and a flattened, rounded tail used for propulsion

Note: Manatees are sirenians related to and resembling the dugong but differing most notably in the shape of the tail.

An aquatic relative of the elephant, manatees grow up to nine feet long and can weigh 1,000 pounds.

—Felicity Barringer

Illustration of manatee

Examples of manatee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Next, explore the Colson Cayes, a magical collection of mangrove islands home to manatees and dolphins, and experience incredible snorkeling on untouched reefs. —Patricia Johnson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2024

Debra Lupton Winter Park Save the Florida manatee Manatees are as Floridian as alligators and key-lime pie. —Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2024

The 12,000-square-foot six-bedroom house was to rise on a prime one-acre parcel just a stone’s throw from a peaceful tributary of the Intracoastal Waterway, where manatees swim and blue herons fly overhead. —Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024

While manatees are herbivorous and pose no threat to humans, other species in the Everglades are not so harmless. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish manatí, probably of Carib origin; akin to Antillean Carib manattoüi manatee

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

manatee

noun

man·​a·​tee ˈman-ə-ˌtē 

: any of several chiefly tropical water-dwelling mammals that eat plants and differ from the related dugong especially in having the tail broad and rounded