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
Two previous outbreaks of bird flu in U.S. marine mammals occurred in Maine in 2022 and Washington in 2023, affecting gray and harbor seals.
—
Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
The aquarium houses two families of harbor seals in its exhibit, according to the website, with each seal having a distinct feature and personality.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Point Lobos also hosts a resident population of harbor seals and sea lions, and gets occasional visits from elephant seals.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Some of the metals that settled in the estuary could enter the food chain in this wildlife hot spot, often populated with sea otters, harbor seals, pelicans and herons.
—Ivano W. Aiello, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
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Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
The aquarium houses two families of harbor seals in its exhibit, according to the website, with each seal having a distinct feature and personality.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Point Lobos also hosts a resident population of harbor seals and sea lions, and gets occasional visits from elephant seals.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Some of the metals that settled in the estuary could enter the food chain in this wildlife hot spot, often populated with sea otters, harbor seals, pelicans and herons.
—Ivano W. Aiello, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harbor seal
Cite this Entry
“Harbor seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harbor%20seal. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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