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

Once thought to be extinct, southern sea otters rebounded but have plateaued at about 3,000 animals in their existing range — which is nowhere near their historic range. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2025

Driving the news: The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians were awarded a grant of more than $1.5 million last week to continue their work on reintroducing sea otters in Oregon. —Kale Williams, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025

Squalene is present in human hair and in aquatic mammals, including sea otters–who don’t live in icy conditions, but still need fur that keeps them warm. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2025

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

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sea otter

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• groundwater
• headwater

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