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

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

The eight belugas already at Shedd are often a visitor favorite. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Under the current plan, 13 belugas will be transported to SeaWorld San Antonio, 3 to SeaWorld San Diego, 10 to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and 2 to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

That means defining how and when to see the lights themselves, and how our aurora season overlaps with the polar bears and belugas. — Cody Chomiak, Forbes.com, 1 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"