noun
dugong
DOO-gahng
Dugong (noun) means a plant-eating marine mammal of tropical waters that has a fluked tail and is related to the manatee. Example: “The dugong drifted over the seagrass bed, grazing slowly.”
noun
1
A plant-eating marine mammal of tropical waters that has a fluked tail and is related to the manatee.
"The dugong drifted over the seagrass bed, grazing slowly."
"Divers hoped to spot a dugong during the boat trip."
"Unlike a manatee, a dugong has a tail with flukes."
Examples of dugong in a sentence →
How to use dugong
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gentle, plant-eating sea mammal that looks a bit like a manatee.
When to use it
It is a standard word used in both everyday and scientific writing about animals.
Memory tip
Stress the first syllable, DOO, and say the last syllable like gahng.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a dugong calf
dugong and manatee
spot a dugong
a herd of dugongs
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The _____ drifted over the seagrass bed, grazing slowly.
Etymology
English borrowed dugong from Cebuano, where the word is also dugong.
Rhymes for dugong
See all rhymes for dugong →Frequently asked questions
What is a dugong?
A dugong is a plant-eating marine mammal found in tropical regions. It has a fluked tail and belongs to the group known as sirenians.
Is a dugong the same as a manatee?
No. Both are sirenians, but they are different animals, and the dugong has a fluked tail.
What language does the word dugong come from?
English borrowed it from Cebuano.
What is the meaning of dugong?
"dugong" (noun) means a plant-eating marine mammal of tropical waters that has a fluked tail and is related to the manatee.
