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
Claude, a rare albino alligator that has been a resident of San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences for 17 years, has died.
—
Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Where Florida's biggest alligators have been found Florida's largest alligators are most often found in the state's biggest freshwater systems, particularly in East-Central and North Florida, according to experts.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
And there’s a shot in it that’s like 20 minutes long of this guy getting an alligator, but the camera guy is in the water as well.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 2025
The reptile's gender is not yet known, with Martz saying the alligator would need to grow to at least 3 feet before the gender could be determined.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alligator
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Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Where Florida's biggest alligators have been found Florida's largest alligators are most often found in the state's biggest freshwater systems, particularly in East-Central and North Florida, according to experts.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
And there’s a shot in it that’s like 20 minutes long of this guy getting an alligator, but the camera guy is in the water as well.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 2025
The reptile's gender is not yet known, with Martz saying the alligator would need to grow to at least 3 feet before the gender could be determined.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alligator
Cite this Entry
“Alligator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alligator. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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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