ridley

noun

rid·​ley ˈrid-lē How to pronounce ridley (audio)
: either of two sea turtles (genus Lepidochelys of the family Cheloniidae):

Examples of ridley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web So far this year, staff at the aquarium’s sea turtle hospital have treated 214 total sea turtles, a number that includes 189 Kemp’s ridleys, 19 green turtles and six loggerheads. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2023 According to Cook, while there has been an increase in the number of certain sea turtle species’ numbers, such as greens, loggerheads and Kemp’s ridleys, species such as Pacific leatherbacks are seeing a dramatic decline in numbers. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 7 July 2023 The green, leatherback, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley are listed as endangered and the loggerhead is listed as threatened. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 At two feet in length and a modest 70 to 100 pounds, the Kemp’s ridley is the world’s smallest sea turtle species. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 June 2022 Kemp’s ridley turtles have started washing up dead on Great Britain’s frigid shores, more than 4,000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, where they’re supposed to be. oregonlive, 27 Dec. 2021 Gulf beaches are nesting grounds for three types of threatened or endangered species of sea turtles: Loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles. al, 25 June 2021 Alabama’s Gulf beaches are nesting grounds for three types of threatened or endangered species of sea turtles: Loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles. al, 3 June 2021 Kemp’s ridley turtles live primarily in coastal environments in the Gulf of Mexico. Debra Moore, The Conversation, 13 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ridley.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ridley was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near ridley

Cite this Entry

“Ridley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ridley. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Biographical Definition

Ridley

biographical name

Rid·​ley ˈrid-lē How to pronounce Ridley (audio)
Nicholas circa 1503–1555 English reformer and martyr

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