tortoise

noun

tor·​toise ˈtȯr-təs 

1

: any of a family (Testudinidae) of terrestrial turtles

broadly : turtle

2

: someone or something regarded as slow or laggard

Examples of tortoise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Choose between 13 frame colors — including timeless tortoise and bright yellow — and various lens hues, like burgundy and olive green. —Claire West, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

Jonathan the tortoise, the ancient reptile mistakenly declared dead back on April Fools' Day, is not only still alive, but has earned another accolade. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 17 June 2026

See nature in action as gopher tortoises burrow in the dunes and shorebirds wade in the surf. —Ana Pelayo Connery, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2026

Join daily nature walks to hunt for shells and shark teeth, and learn the differences between gopher tortoises and sea turtles. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tortu, tortuse, from Anglo-French tortue — more at turtle

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tortoise

• desert tortoise
• giant tortoise
• tortoise beetle

Rhymes for tortoise

• fortis
• mortis
• abortus

Kids Definition

tortoise

noun

tor·​toise ˈtȯrt-əs 

: turtle entry 2

especially : a land-dwelling turtle