Illustration of dugong
plural dugongs also dugong
: an aquatic, herbivorous, usually brownish-gray mammal (Dugong dugon) that inhabits warm coastal waters chiefly of southern Asia, Australia, and eastern Africa and resembles the related manatee but differs in having a notched tail divided into two lobes and upper incisors which grow into small tusks in the male
Note: The dugong commonly attains a length of 8 feet (2.4 meters) or more. It is the sole living species in its taxonomic family (Dugongidae) which also includes the extinct Steller's sea cow and various sirenians known only from fossilized remains.
Examples of dugong in a Sentence
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Seagrasses provide shelters, nurseries, and feeding grounds for thousands of species, including endangered animals such as dugongs, stalked jellyfish and smalltooth sawfish.
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Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
While manatees have a large, rounded and almost spoon-like tail, the tail of a dugong is fluked, looking more like the tail of a whale, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
Thankfully, many safari outfitters offer dynamic itineraries—think pairing the quintessential South African safari with a surreal stint in Namibia or a blue safari grand finale in Mozambique filled with whales, dolphins, whale sharks, and dugongs—designed to engage animal lovers of all ages.
—Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
While the Indian Ocean boasts iconic creatures spanning from the green sea turtle to the dugong, the manta ray has captivated cultures across the globe for centuries, earning a reputation for their large size and gentle disposition.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
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Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
While manatees have a large, rounded and almost spoon-like tail, the tail of a dugong is fluked, looking more like the tail of a whale, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
Thankfully, many safari outfitters offer dynamic itineraries—think pairing the quintessential South African safari with a surreal stint in Namibia or a blue safari grand finale in Mozambique filled with whales, dolphins, whale sharks, and dugongs—designed to engage animal lovers of all ages.
—Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
While the Indian Ocean boasts iconic creatures spanning from the green sea turtle to the dugong, the manta ray has captivated cultures across the globe for centuries, earning a reputation for their large size and gentle disposition.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dugong
Cite this Entry
“Dugong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dugong. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dugong
noun
du·gong
ˈdü-ˌgäng 
-ˌgȯng
: a mammal that lives in water, eats plants, and is related to the manatees but has a two-lobed tail and tusks in the male
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