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 most recent whale to die in Chicago, a 26-year-old female beluga named Osiris, was not included in Friday’s report. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

The Shedd Aquarium took in 10 of the 30 belugas and four dolphins stranded at Marineland, an Ontario park that closed years ago and could no longer care for them. — Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

Twenty whales — 19 belugas and one killer whale — had died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data obtained through freedom of information laws and official statements. — ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

The deaths come one week after Shedd announced the death of Peekachu, a beloved 23-year-old female beluga who arrived at the aquarium in July as part of an international effort to relocate whales from Marineland, a shuttered marine park in Canada. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 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"