manatee
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- manatoid adjective
Etymology
Origin of manatee
1545–55; < Spanish manatí < Carib, but associated with Latin manātus provided with hands
Compare meaning
How does manatee compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A manatee is a peaceful, slow-moving sea creature that's often called a "sea cow." Manatees graze on ocean plants in marshy, shallow areas. You may have to travel a bit to see a manatee — you can find them in coastal areas of the Caribbean Sea, the Amazon basin, and the West Indies, as well as a few rivers in Africa. Manatees are known for their gentleness and curiosity, which sometimes puts them at risk of harm, like when they get dangerously close to ship propellers and fishing nets. Unfortunately, humans are the main cause of death for young, healthy manatees.
Vocabulary lists containing manatee
Marine Biology - Introductory
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Marine Biology - Middle School
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Marine Biology - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Florida manatee demonstrates the pitfalls of the blanket-rule approach.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025
A manatee and its calf drift underwater in Hunter Springs, Florida.
From BBC • Aug. 28, 2024
It’s more difficult to rehabilitate an animal like a sawfish than it is for an air-breathing marine creature, such as a dolphin or manatee, officials say.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 12, 2024
A young manatee headed from Columbus, Ohio, back to Florida.Credit...
From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2024
At least the possessed manatee dudes were on the other side.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
