Illustration of manatee
manatee
noun
man·a·tee
ˈma-nə-ˌtē 
: any of a genus (Trichechus of the family Trichechidae) of large, herbivorous, aquatic mammals that inhabit warm coastal and inland waters of the southeastern U.S., West Indies, northern South America, and West Africa and have a rounded body, a small head with a squarish snout, paddle-shaped flippers usually with vestigial nails, and a flattened, rounded tail used for propulsion
Note: Manatees are sirenians related to and resembling the dugong but differing most notably in the shape of the tail.
An aquatic relative of the elephant, manatees grow up to nine feet long and can weigh 1,000 pounds.—
Felicity Barringer
Felicity Barringer
Examples of manatee in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Crews use crane to rescue manatee Crews needed to use a crane to finally get the animal to safety.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Mahahual is also home to a manatee that often frequents the waters that are near the lighthouse and where marine pastures provide food.
—Natalie Leticia Gallón, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Either way, be sure to keep an eye out for the reserve’s native animal population, including fish, crabs, turtles, herons, flamingos, foxes, and dugongs, cousins to the North American manatee.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
The Mote Science Education Aquarium is a world-class facility that houses manatees, sharks, sea turtles, otters, and many other marine species.
—Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
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Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Mahahual is also home to a manatee that often frequents the waters that are near the lighthouse and where marine pastures provide food.
—Natalie Leticia Gallón, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Either way, be sure to keep an eye out for the reserve’s native animal population, including fish, crabs, turtles, herons, flamingos, foxes, and dugongs, cousins to the North American manatee.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
The Mote Science Education Aquarium is a world-class facility that houses manatees, sharks, sea turtles, otters, and many other marine species.
—Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manatee
Cite this Entry
“Manatee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manatee. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
manatee
noun
man·a·tee
ˈman-ə-ˌtē
: any of several chiefly tropical water-dwelling mammals that eat plants and differ from the related dugong especially in having the tail broad and rounded
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