Illustration of leatherback
leatherback
noun
leath·er·back ˈle-t͟hər-ˌbak 
: the largest existing sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) distinguished by its flexible carapace composed of a mosaic of small bones embedded in a thick leathery skin
Examples of leatherback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Home to the colorful Macaw parrot, leatherback turtles, and thousands of acres of rainforest, the islands of Trinidad and Tobago offer unique, natural explorations and once-in-a-lifetime adventures. —
Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026 The northeast corridor, home to lush forests and a nesting ground for the endangered leatherback turtle, has been one of the areas most affected by unregulated tourism. —Josh Rivera, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 Riptide, a female leatherback turtle from the Caribbean, was tagged and released off the coast of Panama on May 22. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026 The largest leatherback ever recorded was almost 10 feet in length and weighed 2,019 pounds, the National Park Service reports. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leatherback
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.
Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026 The northeast corridor, home to lush forests and a nesting ground for the endangered leatherback turtle, has been one of the areas most affected by unregulated tourism. —Josh Rivera, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 Riptide, a female leatherback turtle from the Caribbean, was tagged and released off the coast of Panama on May 22. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026 The largest leatherback ever recorded was almost 10 feet in length and weighed 2,019 pounds, the National Park Service reports. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leatherback
Cite this Entry
“Leatherback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/leatherback. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
leatherback
noun
leath·er·back ˈlet͟h-ər-ˌbak
: the largest existing sea turtle with a shell composed of small bones embedded in a thick leathery skin
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
