bottlenose dolphin

noun

bot·​tle·​nose dolphin ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōz- 

variants or less commonly bottle-nosed dolphin

ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōzd- 

or bottlenose

: a relatively small chiefly gray toothed whale (Tursiops truncatus) of temperate to tropical waters that has a prominent beak and falcate dorsal fin, reaches a length of 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.6 meters), and is typically found in groups

also : a related whale (T. aduncus) of waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean

Examples of bottlenose dolphin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Human fascination with bottlenose dolphins goes back thousands of years, at least as early as Greek mythology. —Laela Sayigh, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026

The trouble is that salt water, which makes up some 97 percent of the water on earth and is home to mammals like orcas and bottlenose dolphins, is dehydrating by nature. —Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026

The Shark Bay bottlenose dolphins form lifelong relationships that form some of the most intricate social structures in the animal world. —Hasmik Kirakosyan, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026

The marine education center’s residents include 17 rescue bottlenose dolphins from Hurricane Katrina. —Kristin Braswell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bottlenose dolphin

noun

bot·​tle·​nose dolphin

ˌbät-ᵊl-ˌnōz-

: a medium-sized stout-bodied whale with teeth and a short snout