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 Megalodon was a white or mackerel shark, related to today’s great white shark. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2023 Bruce was the name given to the three mechanical predators built to simulate the great white shark at the heart of the story. Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2023 Approximately 800 great white sharks have visited Cape Cod waters from 2015 to 2018, researchers say. Julia Musto, Fox News, 28 July 2023 Winton emphasized that the findings don’t mean there’s an army of 800 great white sharks mustered every day off Cape Cod beaches. Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2023 While recent reports of harrowing shark attacks and great white shark sightings may send shivers down your spine, wildlife experts want swimmers to know that most of these incidents are actually a case of mistaken identity. Jennifer Earl, CBS News, 5 July 2023 Ryder Dodd of JSerra rises from the pool like a great white shark flying out of the ocean. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023 Kendall-Bar says that the team believes the seals sleep in this way to avoid sneak attacks from orcas or great white sharks. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023 One more alert sent out during the morning at 10:43 a.m. said a great white shark was seen a quarter mile off Nauset Public Beach. Bailey Allen, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'great white shark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near great white shark

Cite this Entry

“Great white shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20white%20shark. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

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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