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

Recent Examples on the Web

Kai, a 9-year-old North American river otter living at the Sacramento Zoo, was found dead in her habitat Monday morning, according to zoo officials. —Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025

In adorable video footage, an Asian elephant was seen trotting through the snow, while a North American river otter slid across icy terrain. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

Ophelia, a North American river otter, was found on March 28 and returned to the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Suamico, Wisconsin, the zoo announced on Tuesday. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2025

Zinnia, a 7-year-old river otter, gave birth to three pups in the Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit, her third litter. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for river otter

• annunciator
• imprimatur
• underwater
• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater