dorsal fin
noun
plural dorsal fins
: a flat thin body part that projects from the back of many fish (such as trout, barracuda, and sharks) and some marine mammals (such as dolphins)
Porpoises have a more triangular dorsal fin while a dolphin's dorsal fin is more curved.—
Naomi Corrigan and Dave Himelfield
Naomi Corrigan and Dave HimelfieldThis member of the perch family has two dorsal fins and a large mouth outfitted with sharp teeth …—Matt Markey
Matt MarkeyExamples of dorsal fin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The most prized are the first dorsal fin — the largest one, located on the back of the animal — the pectoral fins on the sides of the trunk, and the one at the lower end of the tail.
—Angela Posada-Swafford, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2024
Scientists can tell the sharks apart by noting the contours of the dorsal fins on their backs.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
The aquarium described sand tigers as being grayish brown in appearance with two dorsal fins of equal size.
—Mike Stunson, Miami Herald, 27 June 2024
Lightly hooked through the lips or underneath the dorsal fin, minnows work exceptionally well under a bobber, too.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 20 June 2024
According to Guðmundsson’s telling, Ólafur took aim but only punctured the animal’s dorsal fin.
—Andrew Chapman, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
The sharp black triangles of their dorsal fins felt like the yin to the yang of the white sails dotting the sound.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
Next, turn the fish end to end and run your knife head to tail along the dorsal fin and backbone, pushing the knife deep enough to bounce the blade off the fish’s rib cage.
—Michael Stillwell, Popular Mechanics, 27 Mar. 2023
But sometimes hooking a minnow just under the dorsal fin or at the tail triggers strikes from more finicky crappies.
—Bob McNally, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
Angela Posada-Swafford, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2024
Scientists can tell the sharks apart by noting the contours of the dorsal fins on their backs.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
The aquarium described sand tigers as being grayish brown in appearance with two dorsal fins of equal size.
—Mike Stunson, Miami Herald, 27 June 2024
Lightly hooked through the lips or underneath the dorsal fin, minnows work exceptionally well under a bobber, too.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 20 June 2024
According to Guðmundsson’s telling, Ólafur took aim but only punctured the animal’s dorsal fin.
—Andrew Chapman, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
The sharp black triangles of their dorsal fins felt like the yin to the yang of the white sails dotting the sound.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
Next, turn the fish end to end and run your knife head to tail along the dorsal fin and backbone, pushing the knife deep enough to bounce the blade off the fish’s rib cage.
—Michael Stillwell, Popular Mechanics, 27 Mar. 2023
But sometimes hooking a minnow just under the dorsal fin or at the tail triggers strikes from more finicky crappies.
—Bob McNally, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dorsal fin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Dorsal fin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dorsal%20fin. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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