otter

noun

ot·​ter ˈä-tər How to pronounce otter (audio)
plural otters also otter
Synonyms of otternext
1
: any of various largely aquatic carnivorous mammals (such as genus Lutra or Enhydra) of the weasel family that usually have webbed and clawed feet and dark brown fur
2
: the fur or pelt of an otter

Illustration of otter

Illustration of otter
  • otter 1

Examples of otter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Beyond the shores of their isolated rock, animals like otters and orcas appear between the waves. — Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Researchers caution that a single observation doesn’t necessarily point to a local population of the otters. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve gives visitors the opportunity to explore a 3,400-acre wetland ecosystem crawling with native critters like otters, turtles, alligators, and wading birds. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 Victorian homes dot the landscape, and the views of Monterey Bay and its wildlife — otters, whales and seals — can’t be beat. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for otter

Word History

Etymology

Middle English otre, oter, otir, going back to Old English otr, oter, otor, going back to Germanic *utra- (whence also Middle Dutch otter "otter," Old High German ottar, Old Norse otr), going back to Indo-European *ud-r-o- "aquatic animal" (whence also Sanskrit udráḥ "aquatic animal, otter," Avestan udra-) with a feminine variant *ud-r-eh2-, whence Latin lutra "otter" (with unetymological l- and -t-), Russian výdra, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian vȉdra, Lithuanian ū́dra, Old Prussian udro (Balto-Slavic with vowel lengthening and acute accent), Greek hýdra "aquatic snake, hydra" (also hýdros "the grass snake Natrix natrix," énydris "otter"); both forms zero-grade derivatives of Indo-European *u̯ód-r-/*u̯ed-n- "water" — more at water entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of otter was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing otter

Rhymes for otter

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Browse Nearby Words

Ottawan
otter
Otterbein
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Otter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otter. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

otter

noun
ot·​ter ˈät-ər How to pronounce otter (audio)
plural otter or otters
1
: any of several water-dwelling mammals that are related to the weasels and minks, have webbed feet with claws and dark brown fur, and feed on other animals (as fish, clams, and crabs) that live in or near the water compare sea otter
2
: the fur or pelt of an otter

More from Merriam-Webster on otter

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for otter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about otter

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