1
: any of a family (Testudinidae) of terrestrial turtles
broadly
: turtle
2
: someone or something regarded as slow or laggard
Examples of tortoise in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet a field survey commissioned by the developers found no tortoises, which are listed as endangered by the state of California.
—
Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Opt for clear, light blue, or light pink colorways to elongate the leg, or try a pair in tortoise or red if your outfit would benefit from a statement shoe.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
If that’s not enough, book a trip to the on-site farm which also has a tortoise zone.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
In a league dominated on draft weekend by movement and repositioning, the Bengals accept the role of the tortoise versus the hare.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Opt for clear, light blue, or light pink colorways to elongate the leg, or try a pair in tortoise or red if your outfit would benefit from a statement shoe.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
If that’s not enough, book a trip to the on-site farm which also has a tortoise zone.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
In a league dominated on draft weekend by movement and repositioning, the Bengals accept the role of the tortoise versus the hare.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
Cite this Entry
“Tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortoise. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tortoise
noun
tor·toise
ˈtȯrt-əs 
: turtle entry 2
especially
: a land-dwelling turtle
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
