dugong

American  

[doo-gong, -gawng] / ˈdu gɒŋ, -gɔŋ /

noun

1. an herbivorous, aquatic mammal, Dugong dugon, of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, having a barrel-shaped body, flipperlike forelimbs, no hind limbs, and a triangular tail: widespread but rare.

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dugong British  

/ ˈduːɡɒŋ /

noun

1. a whalelike sirenian mammal, Dugong dugon, occurring in shallow tropical waters from E Africa to Australia: family Dugongidae

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Etymology

Origin of dugong

1790–1800; < New Latin < German: first recorded as dugung, apparently misrepresentation of Malay duyung, or a cognate Austronesian word

Compare meaning

How does dugong compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• dugong vs. manatee

Example Sentences

Pyenson also noted that sea cow fossils often appear in mixed species groups, making it likely that further research at the site could uncover additional dugong relatives.

From Science Daily • Dec. 12, 2025

A woman dressed as a dugong, a rare marine mammal, beseeched passers-by to end the burning of fossil fuels.

From New York Times • Dec. 9, 2023

For Alice McGown, a Los Angeles-based activist, the right to protest at COP meant dressing as a dugong, or seacow, holding a sign saying: “No More Fossils.”

From Washington Times • Dec. 3, 2023

It also meant getting preapproval from authorities, dragging the dugong through security and dressing into its heavy felt in the still-hot desert environment of Dubai’s Expo City, where COP28 is taking place.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2023

Unfortunately both the dugong and the manatee are being hunted to extinction.

From Sea Monsters Unmasked and Sea Fables Explained by Lee, H. W. (Henry William)