Illustration of fin whale
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
Examples of fin whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
And like many other large endangered whales, fin whale populations have been heavily impacted by commercial whaling in the mid-1900s.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Milstein says the fin whale population off the West Coast is now estimated to be at least 8,000, and that the animal has become an increasingly common sight for whale watchers in Southern California in recent years.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
In spring, the gray whales head north again, fin whales become more abundant, and orcas populate Northern California waters.
—Alanna Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026
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Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 June 2026
And like many other large endangered whales, fin whale populations have been heavily impacted by commercial whaling in the mid-1900s.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Milstein says the fin whale population off the West Coast is now estimated to be at least 8,000, and that the animal has become an increasingly common sight for whale watchers in Southern California in recent years.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
In spring, the gray whales head north again, fin whales become more abundant, and orcas populate Northern California waters.
—Alanna Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fin whale
Cite this Entry
“Fin whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fin%20whale. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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