Illustration of alligator
- alligator 1
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
Examples of alligator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The four-day contest is a major event on the barbecue competition circuit, with more than $190,000 in prizes across categories like beef, exotics (like alligator, or emu, for instance), wings, and sauce.
—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
An alligator is seen in its natural habitat in the Everglades National Park, Florida, on April 9, 2026.
—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Samples from the alligators have been collected and the FWC's investigation into this incident remains active.
—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
Multiple people have been attacked by alligators across central Florida in the last week, with the most recent attack killing a 31-year-old woman.
—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
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Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
An alligator is seen in its natural habitat in the Everglades National Park, Florida, on April 9, 2026.
—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Samples from the alligators have been collected and the FWC's investigation into this incident remains active.
—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
Multiple people have been attacked by alligators across central Florida in the last week, with the most recent attack killing a 31-year-old woman.
—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for alligator
Cite this Entry
“Alligator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alligator. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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"
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