✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

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.
La Jolla’s longtime conflict between beach access rights for people and protections for marine animals against human misconduct has led not only to the public closure of Point La Jolla but also the five-month annual closure of the Children’s Pool, which is home to harbor seals. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025 Nine sea lions and three harbor seals are set to go to Sea Lion Splash, a traveling animal show based in Manatee County. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025 Wildlife sightings include sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, orcas, puffins, and humpback whales. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025 There at the stern of the skiff was a small harbor seal locking eyes with me. Lisa Wood Shapiro, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 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 3 Dec. 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!