gray whale

noun

: a large baleen whale (Eschrichtius robustus) of the northern Pacific having short jaws and no dorsal fin

Examples of gray whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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According to the center, this case marks the 13th dead gray whale found in the wider Bay Area so far this year. Tim Fang, CBS News, 11 June 2026 In the 19th and early 20th centuries, eastern North Pacific gray whale populations were devastated by commercial whaling. Evan Bush, NBC news, 25 May 2026 Last year, 21 dead gray whales were found in the wider Bay Area — the highest number in 25 years, according to The Marine Mammal Center — with at least 40% killed by ship strikes. ABC News, 20 May 2026 Wildlife such as pelicans, sea lions, and migrating gray whales (particularly in December and May) may be spotted along the way. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gray whale

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gray whale was in 1834

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Cite this Entry

“Gray whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20whale. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

gray whale

noun
: a large baleen whale of the northern Pacific Ocean

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