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
Person of interest wanted in seal stabbing A person of interest was identified in the investigation into the stabbing of the elephant seal pup, NOAA said.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 May 2025
How to see young elephant seals in the Bay Area and beyond
General guidelines are to monitor pets when outdoors, keep them clear of wild birds, poultry and cattle, and avoid wetlands, farms and parks where those animals might be in larger numbers.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
At The Marine Mammal Center, undernourished, sick or injured elephant seal pups usually start trickling in during February, after beachgoers call the center’s hotline and specialists are dispatched to rescue them.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
In the mid-19th century, hunters harvested elephant seal oil on the islands, killing off most of their seals before the practice was ended in 1877.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2025
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Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 May 2025
How to see young elephant seals in the Bay Area and beyond
General guidelines are to monitor pets when outdoors, keep them clear of wild birds, poultry and cattle, and avoid wetlands, farms and parks where those animals might be in larger numbers.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
At The Marine Mammal Center, undernourished, sick or injured elephant seal pups usually start trickling in during February, after beachgoers call the center’s hotline and specialists are dispatched to rescue them.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
In the mid-19th century, hunters harvested elephant seal oil on the islands, killing off most of their seals before the practice was ended in 1877.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 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 21 May. 2025.
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