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Definition of manatee

manatee

/ˌmæn.əˈtiː/
man · a · tee
Plural:manatees
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manatee Lexical Profile

manatee Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large, slow-moving, herbivorous aquatic mammal of the genus Trichechus, characterized by a rounded, paddle-like tail and found in warm coastal waters and rivers of the Americas and West Africa.

Example

"During our kayak trip in Florida, we were fortunate enough to observe a gentle manatee grazing on seagrass in the shallow spring."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for manatee

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently compared to or confused with the dugong, a related marine mammal that is distinguished by having a fluked, whale-like tail rather than the manatee's rounded, paddle-like tail.

• Rhymes for manatee

• Nearby Words

manama
manas
manaslu
manatee
manaus
manawainui
manawaiopuna

Word Origin & Etymology

From Spanish 'manatí', derived from the Taíno (an indigenous Caribbean language) word 'manatí', meaning 'breast' or 'udder', likely referring to the animal's prominent mammary glands.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Manatee. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/manatee
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