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killer whale
noun
: a relatively small toothed whale (Orcinus orca of the family Delphinidae) that is black above with white underparts and white oval-shaped patches behind the eyes, attains a length of 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters), typically hunts in groups, and preys chiefly on sea mammals (such as seals, sea lions, and other whales), large fish, and squid
called also orca
Examples of killer whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Malnutrition, killer whale predation, entanglement and vessel strike were listed as the leading causes of death.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024
Another famously white killer whale, nicknamed Chimo, suffered from Chediak-Higashi Syndrome and died from complications of the condition in the early 1970s.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 1 May 2024
Canadian whale enthusiast Sarah Seebach spent months visiting the coastline of British Columbia in the hopes of spotting killer whales.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
All killer whales are currently classified as Orcinus orca, a macabre nod to their vicious reputation.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
In a paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on Tuesday, the scientists proposed giving new species designations to two groups of animals, one known as resident killer whales and the other often called Bigg’s killer whales.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The recent incidents build on previous research that these killer whales predominantly target the livers of white sharks and discard the rest of the carcass.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
Boat captain Erica Page scanned the ocean’s surface, searching for any signs that killer whales were near.
—Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Rescuers have also reported that a group of killer whales that could include her relatives has been swimming near Vancouver Island.
—Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'killer whale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1884, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near killer whale
Cite this Entry
“Killer whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer%20whale. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
killer whale
noun
kill·er whale
ˈkil-ər-
: a flesh-eating mostly black toothed whale 20 to 30 feet (about 6 to 9 meters) long that travels in groups
More from Merriam-Webster on killer whale
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about killer whale
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