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Definition of river otter

river otter

Plural:river otters
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• noun

1

A semiaquatic carnivorous mammal of the weasel family (Mustelidae), native to freshwater rivers, lakes, and coastal shorelines across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, characterized by a streamlined body, dense waterproof fur, and webbed feet for swimming.

Example

"While kayaking along the calm tributary, we spotted a North American river otter playfully sliding down a muddy bank into the water."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for river otter

• Nearby Words

river birch
river cooter
river jack
river otter
riverside
rivet
riyadh

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of River otter. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/river%20otter
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