river otter

noun

: any of various Old and New World otters (especially genera Lutra and Lontra)
especially : one (Lontra canadensis) of Alaska, Canada, and the conterminous U.S. found in aquatic environments from marine coastal regions to high mountains

Examples of river otter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What's the difference between a river otter and a sea otter? Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024 Yet that’s precisely what city officials say happened last week when a river otter somehow made its way into Lake Eola and slaughtered two of the city’s iconic swans — Australian black swans, to be precise. Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 2024 For example, the North American river otter's lifespan is 12 years on average, according to the Smithsonian. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024 Lucius, an 18-year-old North American river otter, had been at the Detroit Zoo since 2009. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for river otter 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'river otter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of river otter was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near river otter

Cite this Entry

“River otter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river%20otter. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

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