Illustration of manatee
manatee
noun
man·a·tee ˈma-nə-ˌtē 
: any of a genus (Trichechus of the family Trichechidae) of large, herbivorous, aquatic mammals that inhabit warm coastal and inland waters of the southeastern U.S., West Indies, northern South America, and West Africa and have a rounded body, a small head with a squarish snout, paddle-shaped flippers usually with vestigial nails, and a flattened, rounded tail used for propulsion
Note: Manatees are sirenians related to and resembling the dugong but differing most notably in the shape of the tail.
An aquatic relative of the elephant, manatees grow up to nine feet long and can weigh 1,000 pounds.
Felicity Barringer
Felicity Barringer 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Barreto, the Florida wildlife commission chairman, said there must be a sustained effort to restore the manatee-friendly sea grass beds and clean up the polluted water causing the problem. Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2022 Central Florida creatures featured in the exhibit include the American alligator, manatee and one friendly guy familiar to sports fans: Orlando Magic’s mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon. Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Aug. 2021 Extra bite: The waterfront patio is adjacent to a manatee sanctuary, which provides mealtime entertainment. Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 2 June 2022 So, a 1,000-pound manatee could eat 100 pounds per day. Fox News, 21 July 2022 The five-year average of manatee deaths in that time frame is 481. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 21 July 2022 Animal lovers are applauding members of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute in Florida for rescuing a baby manatee in Belize. Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE.com, 1 June 2022 Linda Young of Casselberry wore a manatee beanie to keep warm. New York Times, 9 Apr. 2022 According to information released Tuesday by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a fisherman reported a manatee sighting Jan. 24 in the Theodore Industrial Canal, south of Mobile off the western shore of Mobile Bay. al, 1 Feb. 2022 See More
Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2022 Central Florida creatures featured in the exhibit include the American alligator, manatee and one friendly guy familiar to sports fans: Orlando Magic’s mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon. Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Aug. 2021 Extra bite: The waterfront patio is adjacent to a manatee sanctuary, which provides mealtime entertainment. Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 2 June 2022 So, a 1,000-pound manatee could eat 100 pounds per day. Fox News, 21 July 2022 The five-year average of manatee deaths in that time frame is 481. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 21 July 2022 Animal lovers are applauding members of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute in Florida for rescuing a baby manatee in Belize. Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE.com, 1 June 2022 Linda Young of Casselberry wore a manatee beanie to keep warm. New York Times, 9 Apr. 2022 According to information released Tuesday by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a fisherman reported a manatee sighting Jan. 24 in the Theodore Industrial Canal, south of Mobile off the western shore of Mobile Bay. al, 1 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish manatí, probably of Carib origin; akin to Antillean Carib manattoüi manatee
First Known Use
1555, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
manatee
noun
man·a·tee ˈma-nə-ˌtē
: a mainly tropical water-dwelling mammal that eats plants and has a broad rounded tail