California sea lion
noun
: a small brown sea lion (Zalophus californianus) that occurs especially along the Pacific coast of North America from Vancouver Island to Baja California and the Gulf of California and in the Galapagos Islands and that is the seal most often trained to perform in circuses
Examples of California sea lion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Mendocino Coast is a bustling place in terms of wildlife—think California sea lions, whales, and birds of all sorts, among other creatures.
—
Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
Authorities and animal rescue workers saved a baby California sea lion earlier this month after the animal was found in a parking lot near Google’s headquarters, alone and suffering from malnutrition.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Staff are hoping to bring in California sea lions, which, similar to manatees, suffer from algae blooms.
—Colbi Edmonds, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Male California sea lions can reach up to 7.5 feet long and weigh up to 700 pounds, according to the NOAA.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, ranging from African penguins to California sea lions.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
One by one, the four California sea lions slid out of their crates and into the ocean.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
And then there is Ronan, a 15-year-old California sea lion.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Ronan, a California sea lion of the Long Marine Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
—Gennaro Tomma, New York Times, 1 May 2025
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Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
Authorities and animal rescue workers saved a baby California sea lion earlier this month after the animal was found in a parking lot near Google’s headquarters, alone and suffering from malnutrition.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Staff are hoping to bring in California sea lions, which, similar to manatees, suffer from algae blooms.
—Colbi Edmonds, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Male California sea lions can reach up to 7.5 feet long and weigh up to 700 pounds, according to the NOAA.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, ranging from African penguins to California sea lions.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
One by one, the four California sea lions slid out of their crates and into the ocean.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
And then there is Ronan, a 15-year-old California sea lion.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Ronan, a California sea lion of the Long Marine Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
—Gennaro Tomma, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“California sea lion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/California%20sea%20lion. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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