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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Seal Society was instrumental in the city’s decision in 2014 to close the beach at La Jolla’s Children’s Pool to the public from Dec. 15 to May 15 annually to keep humans and harbor seals separated during the seals’ pupping season. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025 Visitors can catch daily presentations featuring penguins, sea lions, harbor seals, and the vibrant marine life of the Giant Ocean Tank, where Myrtle is a star of the show. Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 Something similar happened again in 2018, when an orca appeared to offer him a harbor seal pup. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025 Marin is fortunate to have a healthy harbor seal population, Ratner said. Adrian Rodriguez, Mercury News, 16 June 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harbor seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harbor%20seal. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!