green turtle

American  

noun

1. a sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, common in tropical and subtropical seas, the flesh of which is used for turtle soup: now greatly reduced in number and endangered in some areas.

---

green turtle British  

noun

1. a mainly tropical edible turtle, Chelonia mydas, with greenish flesh used to prepare turtle soup: family Chelonidae

---

Etymology

Origin of green turtle

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

The green turtle has been rescued from the brink of extinction in what scientists are calling a major conservation victory.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

The green turtle is no longer endangered, it said, citing "decades of sustained conservation action" that saw its population recover by 28 percent since the 1970s.

From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025

The Central South Pacific and East Pacific green turtle is at greater risk because of climate change, for example.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023

Fishermen discovered the federally-protected animal, which appeared to be a green turtle, on Friday afternoon, a park’s service and law enforcement ranger told the Miami Herald.

From Fox News • Jun. 26, 2019

There was a big green turtle, about the size of a football, cruising back and forth in the deep water, and he looked just as slow and stupid as the fish did.

From "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" by Christopher Paul Curtis