sea otter

noun

: a rare marine otter (Enhydra lutris) of the northern Pacific coasts that may attain a length of six feet (two meters), is chiefly brown but with lighter coloration on the back of the head and neck, and feeds largely on shellfish

Examples of sea otter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, the bears’ sebum did not contain squalene, a fatty oil found in the hair of humans, sea otters and many aquatic mammals, suggesting this lack could help with ice resistance, per a statement from Trinity College Dublin. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025

The first male sea otter arrived in the Elkhorn Slough, 35 miles north of Bixby Cove, in the late 1990s. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024

At Glacier Bay, passengers take in the scenery, from the Fairweather Mountains to wildlife like sea otters and brown bears. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025

The waters of Security Bay, our overnight anchorage, were oily-calm and full of sea otters. —Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sea otter

noun

: a large marine otter of northern Pacific coasts that feeds mostly on shellfish (as clams, crabs, and sea urchins) and can grow to nearly six feet (two meters) in length