river otter

noun

: any of various Old and New World otters (especially genera Lutra and Lontra)
especially : one (Lontra canadensis) of Alaska, Canada, and the conterminous U.S. found in aquatic environments from marine coastal regions to high mountains

Examples of river otter in a Sentence

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The museum opened in 2009 in a building that was once an art deco car dealership, boasting exhibits highlighting the natural history of the Delmarva Peninsula, as well as a river otter exhibit that is home to two otters named Mac and Tuck. Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026 Young knew almost instantly the tracks belonged to a river otter. Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 11 Feb. 2026 In 2026, the Charlotte Museum of Nature opens in Freedom Park with a treetop canopy walk, owl aviary, frog bog and North American river otter habitat. Josh Roberts, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026 On the smaller side, species like the river otter and mink can be found feasting on fish by the water’s edge, while lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of a wolverine roaming the tundra—and these are far from the only predators that call Katmai home. Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for river otter

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of river otter was in 1801

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Cite this Entry

“River otter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river%20otter. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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