elephant seal
noun
: either of two very large seals (genus Mirounga of the family Phocidae) characterized by a long inflatable proboscis:
a
: one (M. angustirostris) found in Pacific coastal waters from southeastern Alaska to Baja California
b
: one (M. leonina) found in coastal waters of subantarctic islands and Patagonia
Examples of elephant seal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the park, the video appears to show the woman throwing a rock that hits the elephant seal, and the man throwing rocks toward the seal.
—
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
What to know about elephant seals Northern elephant seals weigh up to 2.2 tons at full size and reach up to 13 feet in length, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Today there are thought to be 250,000 northern elephant seals, with about 2,000 in Año Nuevo alone, and other breeding grounds in Point Reyes, Humboldt County and Vancouver Island.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Because of the tides, you’re forced to slow down and savor the waterfalls pouring into the ocean, cliffside beaches, forests, fog, sea lions, elephant seals, and otters frolicking not far off your path.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elephant seal
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.
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
What to know about elephant seals Northern elephant seals weigh up to 2.2 tons at full size and reach up to 13 feet in length, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Today there are thought to be 250,000 northern elephant seals, with about 2,000 in Año Nuevo alone, and other breeding grounds in Point Reyes, Humboldt County and Vancouver Island.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Because of the tides, you’re forced to slow down and savor the waterfalls pouring into the ocean, cliffside beaches, forests, fog, sea lions, elephant seals, and otters frolicking not far off your path.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elephant seal
Cite this Entry
“Elephant seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20seal. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share