two-toed sloth

American

noun

either of two sloths of the genus Choloepus, having two claws on the forelimbs and three on the hind limbs, including C. didactylus and C. hoffmanni.

Etymology

Origin of two-toed sloth

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I would wake earlier, but I think in a past life I was a two-toed sloth or something because I’m nocturnal and I move very slowly.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

Rico, who lives with Tina, a female two-toed sloth, in the zoo's jaguar house, has been regularly monitored since the surgery.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2025

Zoonomia demonstrated how some mammals have a very keen sense of smell - Hoffman's two-toed sloth, the nine-banded armadillo and the African savanna elephant - while others have almost none - whales and dolphins.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2023

Animal encounters start at $165 for two people, and you can choose from the following animals: ring-tailed lemur; mongoose lemur; kangaroo and wallaby; red panda; and two-toed sloth.

From Washington Post • Jan. 4, 2018

I followed him with my eye till the intervening branches closed in betwixt us; and then I lost sight for ever of the two-toed sloth.

From Wanderings in South America by Waterton, Charles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023