: a barbed spear or javelin used especially in hunting large fish or whales
harpoon
transitive verb
harpooner
noun
Examples of harpoon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.
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Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Scientists have confirmed the observation by examining proteins in the eye lenses of the whales and dating harpoons embedded in the flesh of these animals.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Nov. 2025
Additional lines and a harpoon followed before the hunters subdued the gator.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The sport involves using a sharp-pointed tool such as a harpoon, spear or gig to impale a fish's body.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
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Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Scientists have confirmed the observation by examining proteins in the eye lenses of the whales and dating harpoons embedded in the flesh of these animals.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Nov. 2025
Additional lines and a harpoon followed before the hunters subdued the gator.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The sport involves using a sharp-pointed tool such as a harpoon, spear or gig to impale a fish's body.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Cite this Entry
“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harpoon. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
harpoon
noun
har·poon
här-ˈpün 
: a medical instrument with a barbed head used for removing bits of living tissue for examination
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