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.

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green turtle British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of green turtle

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

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

It's home to over 400 types of coral, about 1,500 species of fish, and endangered creatures like the large green turtle.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2021

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

Following Fred was something that looked like a big bag with something else behind it—and that something began to look like a smug green turtle.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr