great white shark

noun

: a large mackerel shark (Carcharodon carcharias) of warm seas that is bluish when young but becomes whitish with age and has been known to attack humans

called also white shark

see shark illustration

Examples of great white shark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Authorities are warning the public to remain vigilant after two great white sharks were spotted off the coast of Maine’s Bailey Island within 48 hours, the Harpswell Marine Resources and Harbor Management said in a Facebook post. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025 Other highlights from the Shark Week 2025 slate include Great White Assassins, a look into how some killer whales easily hunt and kill great white sharks, and In the Eye of the Storm: Shark Storm, an exploration of shark attacks along the Gulf Coast in 2024. Kelli Bender, People.com, 23 June 2025 Tapping into both mythical and real fears regarding great white sharks – including an infamous set of shark attacks along the Jersey Shore in 1916 – Benchley’s 1974 novel became a bestseller. Jared Bahir Browsh, The Conversation, 18 June 2025 Despite decades of research, some of the most basic facts about great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) remain unknown. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for great white shark

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of great white shark was in 1774

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Cite this Entry

“Great white shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20white%20shark. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

great white shark

noun
: a large and dangerous shark of warm seas that is quick to attack human beings and is bluish when young but becomes whitish with age

Medical Definition

great white shark

noun
: a large shark (Carcharodon carcharias of the family Lamnidae) that is bluish when young but becomes whitish with age and has been known to attack humans

called also white shark

More from Merriam-Webster on great white shark

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