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 zoo's manatee rescue efforts are ongoing, and the park is set to open a new facility, the Straz Family Manatee Rescue, where visitors can see eye-level underwater views of manatees this coming Spring. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026

Every winter, around 800 manatees seek refuge in the warm waters of Crystal River’s Kings Bay and its 70 natural springs. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026

One idea was expanding its focus to manatees. —Colbi Edmonds, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026

From hitting the water on a paddleboard or kayak to zooming around on WaveRunners, taking boat tours, or simply watching for wildlife like manatees and dolphins, this is a coastal playground filled with opportunity. —South Seas, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 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