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
Recent Examples on the Web
Local residents would flock to the area, prompting a warning from police to stop taking selfies with the alligator, WAGA reported.
—
Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Kim Spencer of Tampa, Florida, was on an evening walk with her dog Kona when an alligator emerged from a lake nearby with its sights set on the pet.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 3 June 2025
Two motorcyclists were hospitalized over the weekend after striking a six-foot alligator on a Florida highway, according to state Highway Patrol.
—Kyle Schmidbauer, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
Aged in alligator char barrels, Russell’s 10 offers a big, brooding sip that pairs well with cigars, deep thoughts, or slow Sunday afternoons.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for alligator
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Kim Spencer of Tampa, Florida, was on an evening walk with her dog Kona when an alligator emerged from a lake nearby with its sights set on the pet.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 3 June 2025
Two motorcyclists were hospitalized over the weekend after striking a six-foot alligator on a Florida highway, according to state Highway Patrol.
—Kyle Schmidbauer, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
Aged in alligator char barrels, Russell’s 10 offers a big, brooding sip that pairs well with cigars, deep thoughts, or slow Sunday afternoons.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for alligator
Cite this Entry
“Alligator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alligator. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share