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
This spring, Gigi Hadid stepped out in Jimmy Fairly’s oversized Aela sunglasses, pairing the dramatic tortoise frames with a bright red cardigan and relaxed denim.
—
Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
What started with bison hooves helping to restore the prairie grass continues through the Turner Endangered Species Fund, which gives the Bolson tortoise — North America’s largest and rarest tortoise — a leg up through a captive breeding program at the Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
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Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
What started with bison hooves helping to restore the prairie grass continues through the Turner Endangered Species Fund, which gives the Bolson tortoise — North America’s largest and rarest tortoise — a leg up through a captive breeding program at the Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
Cite this Entry
“Tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortoise. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tortoise
noun
tor·toise
ˈtȯrt-əs 
: turtle entry 2
especially
: a land-dwelling turtle
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