California sea lion
noun
: a small brown sea lion (Zalophus californianus) that occurs especially along the Pacific coast of North America from Vancouver Island to Baja California and the Gulf of California and in the Galapagos Islands and that is the seal most often trained to perform in circuses
Examples of California sea lion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Adult female California sea lions can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh as much as 240 pounds, according to NOAA Fisheries.
—
Liz Gray,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Currently, there are 23 California sea lions, 20 northern elephant seals, and two Pacific harbor seals in care.
—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
There's capybaras named after food, an Asian elephant named after Kirby Drive and California sea lions named for donors.
—
Peter Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
8 May 2026
Visitors snapped photos and gathered along the pier Thursday morning as the enormous sea lion flopped onto the docks, surrounded by dozens of smaller California sea lions that typically inhabit the area.
—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2026
The 2,000-pound Steller sea lion is significantly larger than California sea lions, which typically weigh no more than 850 pounds and measure 7 feet in length.
—
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
The males of this species can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh up to 2,500 pounds, as opposed to male California sea lions’ 700 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
On Thursday morning, visitors snapped photos as the Steller sea lion flopped on the pier, surrounded by dozens of much smaller California sea lions that call the docks home.
—
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Steller sea lions are significantly larger than California sea lions.
—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
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Liz Gray,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Currently, there are 23 California sea lions, 20 northern elephant seals, and two Pacific harbor seals in care.
—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
There's capybaras named after food, an Asian elephant named after Kirby Drive and California sea lions named for donors.
—
Peter Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
8 May 2026
Visitors snapped photos and gathered along the pier Thursday morning as the enormous sea lion flopped onto the docks, surrounded by dozens of smaller California sea lions that typically inhabit the area.
—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2026
The 2,000-pound Steller sea lion is significantly larger than California sea lions, which typically weigh no more than 850 pounds and measure 7 feet in length.
—
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
The males of this species can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh up to 2,500 pounds, as opposed to male California sea lions’ 700 pounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
On Thursday morning, visitors snapped photos as the Steller sea lion flopped on the pier, surrounded by dozens of much smaller California sea lions that call the docks home.
—
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Steller sea lions are significantly larger than California sea lions.
—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“California sea lion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/California%20sea%20lion. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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