elephant seal
noun
: either of two very large seals (genus Mirounga of the family Phocidae) characterized by a long inflatable proboscis:
a
: one (M. angustirostris) found in Pacific coastal waters from southeastern Alaska to Baja California
b
: one (M. leonina) found in coastal waters of subantarctic islands and Patagonia
Examples of elephant seal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Enjoy local wildlife like the elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Rookery, especially fun in autumn when juvenile seals arrive.
—
Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Tens of thousands of sea lions and elephant seals dot the shorelines, while dolphins and sperm whales swim through the waters, which are also home to kelp forests and deep-sea coral gardens.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
This idea of using animals as ocean sensors goes back maybe 10, 15 years, and they've been used on elephant seals and sea turtles and various air breathing animals.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Their name comes from the unique protrusions on their back that resemble horns and serve as a defense mechanism against predators including other sharks, elephant seals and some large fish.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elephant seal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Tens of thousands of sea lions and elephant seals dot the shorelines, while dolphins and sperm whales swim through the waters, which are also home to kelp forests and deep-sea coral gardens.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
This idea of using animals as ocean sensors goes back maybe 10, 15 years, and they've been used on elephant seals and sea turtles and various air breathing animals.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Their name comes from the unique protrusions on their back that resemble horns and serve as a defense mechanism against predators including other sharks, elephant seals and some large fish.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elephant seal
Cite this Entry
“Elephant seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20seal. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share