blacktip shark

noun

black·​tip shark ˈblak-ˌtip- 

variants or blacktip or less commonly black-tipped shark

ˈblak-ˌtipt- 

: a small, grayish requiem shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) with black-tipped fins that is widely distributed in coastal tropical and subtropical seas

The vast majority of shark bites are from so-called hit-and-run attacks by smaller species, such as blacktip sharks. They mistake thrashing arms or dangling feet as a prey item, dart in, bite and let go when they realize it's not a fish.

—Tim Friend

Examples of blacktip shark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Smooth hammerheads and blacktip sharks spent comparatively more time near the surface, whereas white sharks, spinner sharks, and dusky sharks were active throughout much of the water column. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Some, like the gray reef shark and blacktip shark, inhabit coral reefs. —Irit Skulnik, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025

Though the species of shark behind the recent Volusia County bites is unknown, blacktip sharks are responsible for most of the bites in the region, according to Naylor. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 19 July 2025

There have been only 11 unprovoked blacktip shark bites on humans since 1959. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blacktip shark

• disembark
• matriarch
• meadowlark
• patriarch
• watermark
• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark