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

Newborn Brookfield Zoo dolphin calf dies suddenly A 4-day-old bottlenose dolphin born last weekend at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago died suddenly Wednesday. —Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025

Guests may see gray, blue, and humpback whales or a bottlenose dolphin, for instance. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 June 2025

Toxic Personality Barfield plead guilty to three counts of killing bottlenose dolphins, according to USA Today. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 29 May 2025

Read More ‘Fisherman frustrated with dolphins shot and poisoned them in Florida, feds say’ In Florida, Zackery Brandon Barfield, a Panama City commercial fisherman, was sentenced to 30 days in prison over shooting and poisoning bottlenose dolphins, according to federal prosecutors. —Miami Herald, 24 May 2025

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