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Definition of dugong
dugong
/ˈduː.ɡɒŋ/
du · gong
Plural:dugongs
dugong Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
dugong Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A large, herbivorous marine mammal of the order Sirenia, native to the warm coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific, characterized by a rounded head, paddle-like flippers, and a fluked tail similar to that of a whale.
Example
"Conservationists are closely monitoring the coastal seagrass beds to protect the vulnerable dugong population."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for dugongWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the closely related manatee, but a dugong is distinguished by its fluked, dolphin-like tail and its strictly marine habitat.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Malay word 'duyung', meaning 'lady of the sea' or 'mermaid', which entered English via Tagalog in the late 18th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dugong. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dugong