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

Tropical fish, octopuses, and rays account for the usual suspects, while lucky sightings include seahorses, sea turtles, and even manatees. —Gina Kramer, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

Those who prefer to stay dry can look for manatees; dine at waterfront spots along Englewood’s coast, bay, and creeks; or catch a car show or festival downtown. —Ashley Cusick, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024

Finalists for 2025 Indianapolis Prize:Helping protect parrots, manatees, jaguars and more Who are the 2025 Emerging Conservationist finalists? —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024

Still, the sight of a manatee in a manmade lake in the Cedarwoods community of Pembroke Pines after the Fourth of July holiday bemused some of the residents, according to a WPLG Local 10 report. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 6 July 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