dugong

noun

du·​gong ˈdü-ˌgäŋ How to pronounce dugong (audio)
-ˌgȯŋ
plural dugongs also dugong
: an aquatic, herbivorous, usually brownish-gray mammal (Dugong dugon) that inhabits warm coastal waters chiefly of southern Asia, Australia, and eastern Africa and resembles the related manatee but differs in having a notched tail divided into two lobes and upper incisors which grow into small tusks in the male

Note: The dugong commonly attains a length of 8 feet (2.4 meters) or more. It is the sole living species in its taxonomic family (Dugongidae) which also includes the extinct Steller's sea cow and various sirenians known only from fossilized remains.

Illustration of dugong

Illustration of dugong

Examples of dugong in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, indiscriminate fishing tools such as gill nets ensnare and drown dugongs. Danna Staaf, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 Australia is home to the world’s largest dugong population, and they are legally protected by all states and the nation’s federal government. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Sep. 2023 Because seagrasses are highly sensitive to changes in water quality, dugongs are also easily affected by environmental changes. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Sep. 2023 Last year, scientists reported that dugongs are functionally extinct in China. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Sep. 2023 Other animals – particularly turtles, dugongs, and dolphins – can become entangled in the nets and drown. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Aug. 2023 Some believe that aquatic mammals such as manatees and dugongs inspired mermaid legends. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2023 The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designated the dugong a vulnerable species in 1982, but says the degree to which dugong numbers have dwindled is unknown. Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 21 Oct. 2022 The archipelago is also home to around 4,000 shy endangered dugongs, a species that feeds on seagrass beds and plays an important role in the overall ecosystem, and at certain times of year, whale sharks can be found here. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 June 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, probably from dugung in Cebuano or a related Austronesian language of the central Philippines

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dugong was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near dugong

Cite this Entry

“Dugong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dugong. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dugong

noun
du·​gong ˈdü-ˌgäng How to pronounce dugong (audio)
-ˌgȯng
: a mammal that lives in water, eats plants, and is related to the manatees but has a two-lobed tail and tusks in the male

More from Merriam-Webster on dugong

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