Illustration of manatee
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
Felicity Barringer
Examples of manatee in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And in winter, springs that attract manatees can be equally crowded.
—Christopher F. Meindl, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
The zoo is already rehabbing three other manatees named Clawford, Sabal and Cobble, who are under the care of a momma manatee, Stubby, who will be the foster mother to all six.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Snorkel with manatees in Crystal River About a 90-minute drive north of Tampa, the 177-acre Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge protects the habitat of the state’s beloved native marine mammal, the Florida manatee.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
The county filed an eviction lawsuit last year, citing allegations of subpar care of the dolphins, manatees and sea lions that are the star attractions there.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
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Christopher F. Meindl, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
The zoo is already rehabbing three other manatees named Clawford, Sabal and Cobble, who are under the care of a momma manatee, Stubby, who will be the foster mother to all six.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2025
Snorkel with manatees in Crystal River About a 90-minute drive north of Tampa, the 177-acre Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge protects the habitat of the state’s beloved native marine mammal, the Florida manatee.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
The county filed an eviction lawsuit last year, citing allegations of subpar care of the dolphins, manatees and sea lions that are the star attractions there.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manatee
Cite this Entry
“Manatee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manatee. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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