alligator

American  

[al-i-gey-ter] / ˈæl ɪˌgeɪ tər /

noun

alligators plural

1. either of two broad-snouted crocodilians of the genus Alligator, of the southeastern U.S. and eastern China.

2. (loosely) any broad-snouted crocodilian, as a caiman.

3. Metallurgy. a machine for bringing the balls of iron from a puddling furnace into compact form so that they can be handled.

4. Jazz. an enthusiastic fan of swing.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of paint, varnish, or the like) to crack and acquire the appearance of alligator hide, as from weathering or improper application to a surface.

2. Metalworking. (of a rolled metal slab) to split and curl up and down at one end; fishmouth.

alligator British  

/ ˈælɪˌɡeɪtə /

noun

1. a large crocodilian, Alligator mississipiensis, of the southern US, having powerful jaws and sharp teeth and differing from the crocodiles in having a shorter and broader snout: family Alligatoridae (alligators and caymans)

2. a similar but smaller species, A. sinensis, occurring in China near the Yangtse River

3. any crocodilian belonging to the family Alligatoridae

4. any of various tools or machines having adjustable toothed jaws, used for gripping, crushing, or compacting

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Usage

What’s the difference between alligators and crocodiles? Alligators and crocodiles are both large, lizardlike reptiles known for their large, powerful jaws and sharp teeth, their long tails, and their thick, plated skin. However, you can tell them apart through some physical differences. Alligators are typically darker and have broader snout. Crocodiles are often lighter in color and have a narrower snout. When they’re in the water, alligators typically lurk under the surface, with only their eyes visible. In contrast, crocodiles typically hold the top of their head out of the water. When alligators’ jaws are closed, only their upper teeth are visible, but both the upper and lower teeth of crocodiles are visible when their jaws are closed. Alligators mainly live in the southeastern U. S. and eastern China. Crocodiles live in tropical areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. The only place that wild alligators and crocodiles have been documented as inhabiting the same area is in south Florida. Taxonomically speaking, alligators and crocodiles are not only different species, they also belong to a different genus (alligators belong to the genus Alligator, while crocodiles belong to the genus Crocodylus). Still, they both belong to the order Crocodylia, which means they can both be called crocodilians. Here’s an example of alligator and crocodile used correctly in a sentence. Example: Florida is known for its population of alligators, although a few crocodiles also live in the extreme south. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between alligators and crocodiles.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• alligators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of alligator

1560–70; < Spanish el lagarto the lizard < Vulgar Latin *ille that + *lacartus, for Latin lacertus lizard

Explanation

An alligator is a very big reptile — a scaly, four-footed animal with a long tail. You might see an alligator if you travel to Florida or Louisiana. Alligators are only found in the warmest, swampiest places in the United States and China — and occasionally in the zoo. They can grow as long as fourteen feet and can weigh more than 900 pounds, and they eat turtles, birds, fish, and sometimes deer. Alligator comes from the Spanish el lagarto, or "lizard." In the 1930s, if someone called you an alligator, they might have been referring to your love for swing music.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alligator alligators

The landmark Endangered Species Act -- passed in 1973 and credited with saving the bald eagle, the American alligator and other iconic species -- prohibits "taking" endangered species.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

A gripping narrative that might change how you see alligators: Down in the manicured exurbs of Florida, what happens when someone spots an alligator next to their pool?

From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026

That pace is matched only by its race to knock out rival mascots—including an alligator, a duck and chickens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Court documents also do not detail whether an alligator was harmed during the alleged shooting.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

Over time my stories got more and more ridiculous: alligator wrestling in the Everglades in Florida, freak roller coaster accidents, skydiving trips gone wrong.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

A gripping narrative that might change how you see alligators: Down in the manicured exurbs of Florida, what happens when someone spots an alligator next to their pool?

From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026

The center was assembled in just eight days in June last year with bunk beds, wire cages and large white tents at an abandoned airfield in the Everglades, home to a large population of alligators.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

As for the red wolf, Mr. Moore writes that, in the 1930s in northeast Louisiana, a remnant tract of old-growth forest teemed with prowling panthers and massive alligators.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

Lana Krol, a senior veterinarian at the academy, said that out of all the alligators she's worked with, Claude "struck me as the most laidback of them all".

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2026

Our LSTs moved up to the line of departure at 0730 and our amphibious alligators rolled down the ramp into the water.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac