pinniped
noun
pin·ni·ped
ˈpi-nə-ˌped 
: any of an order or suborder (Pinnipedia) of aquatic carnivorous mammals (such as a seal or walrus) with all four limbs modified into flippers
pinniped
adjective
Examples of pinniped in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When pinnipeds evolved, by contrast, oceans had more food to offer.
—
Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024
The pinniped’s anatomy demonstrates that 21 million years after whales started sliding into the seas, pinnipeds began to do the same.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024
Leopard seals are unique as being the only pinnipeds to prey largely on other warm-blooded creatures, including fellow seals.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) marine biologist Michelle Shero and colleagues are currently spending several weeks studying these pinnipeds.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Feb. 2024
Energy efficient pinnipeds The team hopes to look deeper into the nasal structures of other species to see if different parts provide evolutionary advantages in other climates.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Dec. 2023
Those adaptations go beyond thick layers of blubber for insulation and up into the pinniped’s nose.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Dec. 2023
Modern-day seals or pinnipeds, such as harbor, elephant and ringed seals, are highly adapted to their watery environments and use their whiskers to detect vibrations underwater.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 23 Aug. 2023
Casts were made because preserved remains of whiskers or soft tissues of early pinnipeds are unknown.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 23 Aug. 2023
Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024
The pinniped’s anatomy demonstrates that 21 million years after whales started sliding into the seas, pinnipeds began to do the same.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024
Leopard seals are unique as being the only pinnipeds to prey largely on other warm-blooded creatures, including fellow seals.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) marine biologist Michelle Shero and colleagues are currently spending several weeks studying these pinnipeds.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Feb. 2024
Energy efficient pinnipeds The team hopes to look deeper into the nasal structures of other species to see if different parts provide evolutionary advantages in other climates.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Dec. 2023
Those adaptations go beyond thick layers of blubber for insulation and up into the pinniped’s nose.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Dec. 2023
Modern-day seals or pinnipeds, such as harbor, elephant and ringed seals, are highly adapted to their watery environments and use their whiskers to detect vibrations underwater.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 23 Aug. 2023
Casts were made because preserved remains of whiskers or soft tissues of early pinnipeds are unknown.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 23 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pinniped.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pinniped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinniped. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pinniped
noun
pin·ni·ped
ˈpi-nə-ˌped
: any of a group of mammals (as seals, sea lions, and walruses) that typically live in oceans but bear their young on land or on floating sheets of ice, have front and hind flippers, and eat other animals (as fish)
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