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

Visitors can walk 7 miles of trails and see 140 bird species and animals such as manatees, dolphins, alligators, otters, bobcats, sea turtles and gopher tortoises. —Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Kohlhorst acknowledged that an emu, pig and tortoise had previously escaped, but described them as isolated incidents. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026

Reptiles, birds, and a touch tank are all found inside the center; at the entrance, you’re greeted by a tortoise and a pig. —Dyana Lederman, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026

The assortment includes styles such as No Comment, Clock It, In the City and Nevermind, with colorways spanning black, tortoise and tonal finishes. —Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 4 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