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
Examples of leatherback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elephants and forest buffalos roam the shores, while the area is renowned for its seasonal leatherback turtle sightings and brilliant bird life.
—
Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
The northeast corridor, home to lush forests and a nesting ground for the endangered leatherback turtle, has been one of the areas most affected by unregulated tourism.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Riptide, a female leatherback turtle from the Caribbean, was tagged and released off the coast of Panama on May 22.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The largest leatherback ever recorded was almost 10 feet in length and weighed 2,019 pounds, the National Park Service reports.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leatherback
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
The northeast corridor, home to lush forests and a nesting ground for the endangered leatherback turtle, has been one of the areas most affected by unregulated tourism.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Riptide, a female leatherback turtle from the Caribbean, was tagged and released off the coast of Panama on May 22.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The largest leatherback ever recorded was almost 10 feet in length and weighed 2,019 pounds, the National Park Service reports.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 8 Dec. 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 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
