hammerhead
noun
ham·mer·head
ˈha-mər-ˌhed 
1
: the striking part of a hammer
2
3
: any of a family (Sphyrnidae) of active voracious medium-sized sharks that have the eyes at the ends of lateral extensions of the flattened head see shark illustration
Examples of hammerhead in a Sentence
we despair of ever getting those hammerheads to buckle their seat belts without prodding
Recent Examples on the Web
Researchers examined the feeding and habitat patterns of 62 great hammerhead sharks sampled between 2018 and 2025.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
In 2018, a visitor fishing in the surf at North Carolina’s Outer Banks pulled out a 6-foot hammerhead shark that outweighed him.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025
Small sharks, deep-water species, and those that rely on constant swimming to breathe, like threshers and hammerheads, were found to have the highest mortality rates.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Mar. 2025
At present, no deck planks remain on the wider, westernmost portion of the pier called the hammerhead.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hammerhead
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Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
In 2018, a visitor fishing in the surf at North Carolina’s Outer Banks pulled out a 6-foot hammerhead shark that outweighed him.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025
Small sharks, deep-water species, and those that rely on constant swimming to breathe, like threshers and hammerheads, were found to have the highest mortality rates.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Mar. 2025
At present, no deck planks remain on the wider, westernmost portion of the pier called the hammerhead.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hammerhead
Cite this Entry
“Hammerhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammerhead. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hammerhead
noun
ham·mer·head
ˈham-ər-ˌhed
: any of various active sharks of medium size that have the eyes at the ends of sideward extensions of the flattened head
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