manatee

American  

[man-uh-tee, man-uh-tee] / ˈmæn əˌti, ˌmæn əˈti /

noun

1. any of several plant-eating aquatic mammals of the genus Trichechus, of West Indian, Floridian, and Gulf Coast waters, having two flippers in front and a broad, spoon-shaped tail: all species are endangered.

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manatee British  

/ ˈmænəˌtiː, ˌmænəˈtiː /

noun

1. any sirenian mammal of the genus Trichechus, occurring in tropical coastal waters of America, the Caribbean, and Africa: family Trichechidae. They resemble whales and have a prehensile upper lip and a broad flattened tail

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Other Word Forms

• manatoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of manatee

1545–55; < Spanish manatí < Carib, but associated with Latin manātus provided with hands

Compare meaning

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

• dugong vs. manatee
• sea cow vs. manatee

Explanation

A manatee is a peaceful, slow-moving sea creature that's often called a "sea cow." Manatees graze on ocean plants in marshy, shallow areas. You may have to travel a bit to see a manatee — you can find them in coastal areas of the Caribbean Sea, the Amazon basin, and the West Indies, as well as a few rivers in Africa. Manatees are known for their gentleness and curiosity, which sometimes puts them at risk of harm, like when they get dangerously close to ship propellers and fishing nets. Unfortunately, humans are the main cause of death for young, healthy manatees.

Example Sentences

After decades of investment by local communities and the state, the manatee population rose from about 1,200 in the 1970s to more than 9,000 today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

All three manatee species are listed as vulnerable to extinction due to a variety of threats including boat collisions, hunting and habitat destruction.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2024

It’s more difficult to rehabilitate an animal like a sawfish than it is for an air-breathing marine creature, such as a dolphin or manatee, officials say.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 12, 2024

The orphans, three baby females, arrived one after the other at ZooTampa’s manatee hospital.

From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2024

I said probably not, because I wanted to be a cheetah or manatee or dog scientist, but I would keep bats in mind as a backup plan.

From "Crenshaw" by Katherine Applegate