beluga

noun

be·​lu·​ga bə-ˈlü-gə 

1

: a large white sturgeon (Huso huso) of the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and their tributaries

also : caviar processed from beluga roe compare osetra, sevruga

2

[Russian belukha, from belyĭ] : a toothed whale (Delphinapterus leucas) of arctic and subarctic waters having a fusiform body that is about 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 5.0 meters) long and white when mature

called also white whale

Illustration of beluga

• beluga 2

Examples of beluga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The three belugas were transported to California on Saturday in a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 cargo plane. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Before the transfers began last month, the park housed 30 belugas and four dolphins, notably the last captive whales and dolphins in Canada. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Georgia Aquarium rehoused two belugas in the most recent effort, stopping in Chicago before continuing to Atlanta, according to the Shedd news release. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

One beluga had a growth layer group at 80, but due to tooth wear over time, the age may have been an underestimate. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Russian, from belyĭ white; akin to Greek phalios having a white spot — more at bald

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for beluga

• pseudotsuga
• tsuga

Kids Definition

beluga

noun

be·​lu·​ga bə-ˈlü-gə 

: a toothed whale that becomes 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 5.0 meters) long and white when adult

called also beluga whale

Etymology

from earlier beluga "a white sturgeon," from Russian beluga (same meaning), from belyǐ "white"