Illustration of leatherback
leatherback
noun
leath·er·back
ˈle-t͟hər-ˌbak 
: the largest existing sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) distinguished by its flexible carapace composed of a mosaic of small bones embedded in a thick leathery skin
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And the magic of watching leatherback sea turtles, as old as the dinosaurs, swimming across vast oceans to nest their hatchlings on Galathea Bay’s pristine shore might soon fade into memory.
—
M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Waters surrounding Florida are home to loggerhead, green, leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, all considered endangered, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Wildlife, from endangered loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles to manatees is abundant.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 July 2025
To see the rarer leatherback, visit from February to April.
—AFAR Media, 11 July 2025
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M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Waters surrounding Florida are home to loggerhead, green, leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, all considered endangered, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Wildlife, from endangered loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles to manatees is abundant.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 July 2025
To see the rarer leatherback, visit from February to April.
—AFAR Media, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for leatherback
Cite this Entry
“Leatherback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leatherback. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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leatherback
noun
leath·er·back
ˈlet͟h-ər-ˌbak
: the largest existing sea turtle with a shell composed of small bones embedded in a thick leathery skin
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