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
The Lakers were the tortoise by the game’s final buzzer, clearly gassed after trying to halt the revolving door of Oklahoma City bench options.
—
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
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Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
Cite this Entry
“Tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortoise. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tortoise
noun
tor·toise
ˈtȯrt-əs 
: turtle entry 2
especially
: a land-dwelling turtle
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