manatee

noun

man·​a·​tee ˈma-nə-ˌtē 

: any of a genus (Trichechus of the family Trichechidae) of large, herbivorous, aquatic mammals that inhabit warm coastal and inland waters of the southeastern U.S., West Indies, northern South America, and West Africa and have a rounded body, a small head with a squarish snout, paddle-shaped flippers usually with vestigial nails, and a flattened, rounded tail used for propulsion

Note: Manatees are sirenians related to and resembling the dugong but differing most notably in the shape of the tail.

An aquatic relative of the elephant, manatees grow up to nine feet long and can weigh 1,000 pounds.

—Felicity Barringer

Illustration of manatee

Examples of manatee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The data builds on the work of Dr. Bob Bondi, a marine biologist who has collected health assessments of nearly 300 manatees beginning in 2006. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025

Along the way, marvel at some of the city’s most impressive homes and spot dolphins, manatees, and even sting rays in the water below. —Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2025

Jeff Corwin, a biologist and conservationist who has hosted TV shows for nearly three decades, loves Florida’s manatees. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025

Here mermaids swim underwater, joined by manatees, turtles, and fish—and visitors can have a front-row seat to it all. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish manatí, probably of Carib origin; akin to Antillean Carib manattoüi manatee

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for manatee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

manatee

noun

man·​a·​tee ˈman-ə-ˌtē 

: any of several chiefly tropical water-dwelling mammals that eat plants and differ from the related dugong especially in having the tail broad and rounded