harbor seal

noun

: a small hair seal (Phoca vitulina) of oceanic coasts in the northern hemisphere that often ascends rivers

Examples of harbor seal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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And only one of those rings — the slightly smaller one — moves in the direction in which the fish is swimming, potentially confusing a harbor seal in pursuit. Ari Daniel, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026 The death toll included 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, 22 killer whales and billions of salmon and herring eggs. Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 This pod feeds on sea mammals - unlike the endangered salmon-eating resident orcas - and there are plenty of harbor seals, sea lions and porpoises in the Salish Sea. CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026 In some sea caves, harbor seals rest in the quiet shade. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harbor seal

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of harbor seal was in 1766

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Cite this Entry

“Harbor seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harbor%20seal. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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