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

Scientists working in Mexico have recorded multiple incidents in which a group of orcas hunt young great white sharks and eat their energy-rich livers. —Jack Guy, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025

In the first video taken in August 2020, five female orcas were seen pushing a young great white shark to the surface of the ocean, per New Scientist. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025

Now, for the first time, they’ve been spotted repeatedly targeting young great white sharks in a shark nursery, according to a new paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science. —Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2025

The film's villain, Bruce, is a great white shark with a relentless nature — and the creature doesn't discriminate. —Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for great white shark

• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark
• marc
• mark
• marque
• narc
• quark

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