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

One of the largest great white sharks tagged by scientists along the East Coast is lingering off North Carolina for reasons that aren’t quite clear, according to a tracker fitted to its dorsal fin. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026

That location a few weeks ago marked one of the westernmost points recorded for a great white shark in the Gulf and was considered unusual behavior, researchers told news agency SWNS. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026

In September, a great white shark mauled surfer Mercury Psillakis to death at a popular northern Sydney ocean beach. —CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026

Seal populations in Canadian waters may be attracting more and more great white sharks. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026

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