desert tortoise

noun

: a large burrowing land tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) of arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and adjacent Mexico

Examples of desert tortoise 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.
Luckily, my desert tortoise named Dotty was safely snoozing in my backyard. — Alina Hartounian, NPR, 18 May 2026 That’s no longer allowed, but the experience inspired her to keep a small desert tortoise as a pet and learn more about tortoise conservation. — Jaimie Ding, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025 That's no longer allowed, but the experience inspired her to keep a small desert tortoise as a pet and learn more about tortoise conservation. — CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025 Unfortunately, the abundance of grasses won’t translate to more food for the desert tortoises, jackrabbits and mule deer, whose palates lean toward the native plants that buffelgrass crowds out. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for desert tortoise

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desert tortoise was in 1933

Rhymes for desert tortoise

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Browse Nearby Words

desertthorn
desert tortoise
desert trumpet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Desert tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert%20tortoise. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on desert tortoise

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about desert tortoise

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