bottlenose dolphin

noun

bot·​tle·​nose dolphin ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōz- How to pronounce bottlenose dolphin (audio)
variants or less commonly bottle-nosed dolphin 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
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Scientists studied 20 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) that were stranded in the IRL, using Triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (QqQ or TQMS). Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025 The resarcher's study, which involved 20 common bottlenose dolphins stranded in the Indian River Lagoon in eastern Florida during the summer cyanobacterial bloom season, identfied markers of Alzheimer's disease. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 These temperate, food-rich waters are a buffet for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, drawing them in to chase down mullet, menhaden, and other small fish. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025 Passengers aboard a Newport Coastal Adventure charter got the thrill when more than 100 bottlenose dolphins were filmed on Wednesday, Aug. 27, racing alongside their boat. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bottlenose dolphin

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottlenose dolphin was in 1826

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Cite this Entry

“Bottlenose dolphin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottlenose%20dolphin. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

bottlenose dolphin

noun
bot·​tle·​nose dolphin
ˌbät-ᵊl-ˌnōz-
: a medium-sized stout-bodied whale with teeth and a short snout

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