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 360-acre preserve adjacent to the LEC and Deltona Regional Library is home to a variety of wildlife, including Florida scrub jays and gopher tortoises, which are drawn to the low vegetation and sandy ridges of the scrub habitat.
—
Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
For instance, the Mojave Desert tortoise (listed as endangered by the state of California) spends most of the year underground in places like Joshua Tree National Park.
—Ruffin Prevost, AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
At Cannes Film Festival this year, Halle Berry wore frames in a distinctive yellow tortoise pattern from a new Linda Farrow x Jacquemus La Croisière capsule, and Dakota Johnson chose a pair of amber-lensed aviators.
—Alison S. Cohn, Vogue, 11 July 2025
Similarly, on the Galápagos Islands, intensive control of invasive goats, pigs and donkeys has led to the recovery of native vegetation and the comeback of iconic species such as Galápagos tortoises.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
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Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
For instance, the Mojave Desert tortoise (listed as endangered by the state of California) spends most of the year underground in places like Joshua Tree National Park.
—Ruffin Prevost, AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
At Cannes Film Festival this year, Halle Berry wore frames in a distinctive yellow tortoise pattern from a new Linda Farrow x Jacquemus La Croisière capsule, and Dakota Johnson chose a pair of amber-lensed aviators.
—Alison S. Cohn, Vogue, 11 July 2025
Similarly, on the Galápagos Islands, intensive control of invasive goats, pigs and donkeys has led to the recovery of native vegetation and the comeback of iconic species such as Galápagos tortoises.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortoise
Cite this Entry
“Tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortoise. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tortoise
noun
tor·toise
ˈtȯrt-əs 
: turtle entry 2
especially
: a land-dwelling turtle
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