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
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One river otter was captured at the scene and tested negative for rabies at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 The Detroit Zoo just announced the arrival of three North American river otter pups, and this is exactly the kind of news your day needed. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 For a species as charismatic and ecologically important as the North American river otter, every birth represents a meaningful step. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026 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 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 1 May. 2026.

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