Illustration of alligator
- alligator 1
alligator
noun
al·li·ga·tor
ˈa-lə-ˌgā-tər 
1
: either of two large carnivorous, thick-skinned, long-bodied, aquatic, crocodilian reptiles (Alligator mississippiensis of the southeastern U.S. and A. sinensis of China) that have a broad head with a slightly tapered, long, rounded, U-shaped snout and a special pocket in the upper jaw for reception of the enlarged lower fourth tooth
broadly
: crocodilian
2
: leather made from alligator hide
Examples of alligator in a Sentence
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Local
An alligator went missing from a KC middle school.
—
Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2024
Choose from fish, clams, oysters, scallops, Alaskan snow crab legs, alligator, frog legs, salmon, sides, their famous onion rings, and dessert.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 10 June 2024
An investigation into the alligator’s whereabouts for the past week is ongoing, the organization said.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024
In terms of other lizard families, snakes are most closely related to monitor lizards—the group that includes Komodo dragons—and the alligator lizards found in western Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for alligator 
Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2024
Choose from fish, clams, oysters, scallops, Alaskan snow crab legs, alligator, frog legs, salmon, sides, their famous onion rings, and dessert.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 10 June 2024
An investigation into the alligator’s whereabouts for the past week is ongoing, the organization said.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024
In terms of other lizard families, snakes are most closely related to monitor lizards—the group that includes Komodo dragons—and the alligator lizards found in western Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for alligator
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Cite this Entry
“Alligator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alligator. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alligator
noun
al·li·ga·tor
ˈal-ə-ˌgāt-ər
1
: either of two large short-legged reptiles resembling crocodiles but having a shorter and broader snout
2
: leather made from alligator's hide
Etymology
from Spanish el lagarto "the lizard"
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