fin whale

noun

: a baleen whale (Balaenoptera physalus) that may attain a length of over 70 feet (21 meters) and is found chiefly in subtropical to arctic and antarctic waters worldwide

called also finback

Illustration of fin whale

Examples of fin whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There is growing concern around the overlap between the krill fishery and important feeding grounds of the recovering fin whale population. — Kim S. Bernard, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

The country sets annual quotas for the fin whales and minke whales fishermen are allowed to hunt in its waters. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026

The letter follows a June 19 incident in which Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas arrived in Seward, Alaska, with a dead fin whale on its bow. — Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Like all large whales, the NOAA said fin whales were hunted by commercial whalers and their populations were decimated. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fin whale

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

fin whale

noun

: a baleen whale that may reach a length of over 70 feet (21 meters)