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

Dusky sharks — which were spotted attacking seals off Nantucket in the past — have also been seen off Orleans’ Nauset Beach, where great white sharks are frequently spotted during the summer and fall. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 18 May 2026

The agency added that it was reported to be a great white shark. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026

Over the last 20 years, scientists have documented an increasing number of juvenile great white sharks cruising waters off Southern California beaches. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026

Experts believe warmer waters are making for ideal conditions for great white sharks to stick around off Southern California, instead of heading south where the temperatures are typically higher. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 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