cetacean

noun

ce·​ta·​cean si-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce cetacean (audio)
: any of an order (Cetacea) of aquatic mostly marine mammals that includes the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and related forms and that have a torpedo-shaped nearly hairless body, paddle-shaped forelimbs but no hind limbs, one or two nares opening externally at the top of the head, and a horizontally flattened tail used for locomotion
cetacean adjective
cetaceous adjective

Examples of cetacean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With so many cetaceans in South Georgia’s waters now, plus more than 80 visits by sightseeing vessels every summer, ship strikes are a risk. Douglas Main, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024 Whales are cetaceans, as are porpoises and dolphins. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024 Whether in the Pacific, Arctic, or Atlantic oceans, the cetaceans, bears, and marine life are uniquely different in each environment, especially when the Arctic Ocean thaws come spring. Jonny Bierman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2023 Hundreds, possibly thousands, of otherwise healthy cetaceans have died as a result of the war. David Axe, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 California June 7, 2023 Others wonder if the unusually large pods of multi-ton cetaceans now appearing off the coasts of San Francisco, Monterey and Nantucket, Mass., may soon follow suit. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023 Later they were transformed into antic sea pandas, happy-go-lucky cetaceans whose highest purpose in life was to turn somersaults in a pool or snap a mackerel from a trainer’s hand for the delight of tourists. Glen Martin, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 The Russian navy’s militarized cetaceans include warm-water bottlenose dolphins and cold-water belugas. David Axe, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Researchers had already discovered the capacity for vocal learning in species other than humans, including in songbirds, hummingbirds, parrots, cetaceans such as dolphins and whales, pinnipeds such as seals, elephants and bats. Sonia Shah, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cetacean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Latin cetus whale, from Greek kētos

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cetacean was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near cetacean

Cite this Entry

“Cetacean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cetacean. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cetacean

noun
ce·​ta·​cean si-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce cetacean (audio)
: any of an order of aquatic mammals (as a whale, dolphin, or porpoise)
cetacean adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cetacean

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