tortoise

American  

[tawr-tuhs] / ˈtɔr təs /

noun

• tortoises
  plural

1. a turtle, especially a terrestrial turtle.

2. a very slow person or thing.

3. testudo.

---

tortoise British  

/ ˈtɔːtəs /

noun

1. any herbivorous terrestrial chelonian reptile of the family Testudinidae, of most warm regions, having a heavy dome-shaped shell and clawed limbs

2. another name for terrapin

3. a slow-moving person

4. another word for testudo See also giant tortoise

---

Usage

What’s the difference between a tortoise and a turtle? The words tortoise and turtle are sometimes used interchangeably, and turtle is the more general term. The word tortoise is sometimes used to distinguish a turtle as being a terrestrial (mostly land-dwelling) one, as opposed to an aquatic turtle (one that spends most of its time in water). However, this doesn’t mean that a turtle is necessarily aquatic simply because it’s called a turtle. For example, the box turtle is primarily terrestrial (it can also be called the box tortoise). Turtles and tortoises are both reptiles that belong to the order Testudines. Whether something is called a tortoise or a turtle often depends on its habitat and physical features. Some aquatic turtles, like snapping turtles, have webbed feet, while others, like sea turtles, have flippers. In contrast, turtles that are called tortoises typically have stubby, round feet, and their shells are often more domed. Here are a few quick questions to help you determine whether it’s more appropriate to call something a tortoise or a turtle. Q: Does it spend a lot of time in the water and have webbed feet or flippers?A: It’s probably called a turtle. Q: Does it live mostly on land and have a domed shell and round feet?A: There’s a good chance it’s called a tortoise, but this isn’t always the case. Q: Is it a teenaged, mutant ninja?A: It’s a turtle. Still stumped? Ask a herpetologist. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between tortoises and turtles.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tortoises
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tortoise

1350–1400; variant of earlier (15th-century) tortuse, tortose, tortuce, Middle English tortuca < Medieval Latin tortūca, for Late Latin tartarūcha (feminine adj.) of Tartarus (< Greek tartaroûcha ), the tortoise being regarded as an infernal animal; Medieval Latin form influenced by Latin tortus crooked, twisted ( see tort)

Explanation

A tortoise is a reptile with a hard, rounded shell. It's a type of turtle that lives on land all the time — so bring your pet tortoise in the sandbox with you, but not in the pool! A tortoise is a turtle, but a turtle isn't necessarily a tortoise! While most turtles are excellent swimmers and spend much of their time in the water, tortoises are full-time land dwellers. Their shells are more rounded than those of the typical turtle, and they don't have webbed feet. These are adaptations that help tortoises thrive on land, although they are notoriously slow (think "The Tortoise and the Hare").

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tortoise tortoises

They suggest that A. syrax could become a flagship species for conservation in the region, joining other rare animals found there, including the Asian forest tortoise, Oldham's leaf turtle and the Indochinese tiger.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

An adventurous tortoise is home safe and well after being rescued from a recycling and garden waste centre.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

So perhaps IBM is the tortoise in this race.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

“We have a healthy tortoise of an economy,” said David Kelly, J.P.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026

The good-natured tortoise shuffled into the pit, taking for granted that his immense strength could carry it out.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

Encounter marine life On Desroches island, feed giant baby tortoises at the Four Seasons’ Tortoise Sanctuary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Famous examples include the giant tortoises of the Galapagos and the extinct Dodo of Mauritius.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2026

His Turner Endangered Species Fund, launched in June 1997, has worked to save gopher tortoises, monarch butterflies and leopard frogs, working mainly with private landowners.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

Bernard lives next to the project site and has documented multiple desert tortoises on and around her property — including Squiggles, who was given the nickname for leaving wavy tracks in the sand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

Once Victor had managed to fish the pedigreed cat out of a barrel full of stinking sardines and stowed her in a scratch-safe box, he had discovered the two tortoises.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke