leopard seal

noun

: a spotted slate gray seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) especially of antarctic and subantarctic waters that feeds chiefly on krill, other seals, penguins, and fish

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web That was how Erich Fitzgerald met Sabine the leopard seal. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2012 The leopard seal is a semi-aquatic mammal and an apex predator in Antarctica. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2022 Photographer Paul Nicklen is still awestruck by his face time with a leopard seal in 2006. Craig Welch, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023 Weighing in at over 1,200 pounds, a leopard seal looks like the prehistoric marine species that once took on the dinosaurs. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2022 Amos Nachoum was awarded the grand prize for his image of a leopard seal hunting a penguin. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2022 Without many other fledglings around, the young penguins may be more likely to become a meal for a hungry leopard seal. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Oct. 2022 Nachoum explains in a statement that just before the low tide arrived, a ravenous leopard seal scanned the shallows for its unsuspecting dinner to arrive. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2022 The grand prize of World Nature Photographer of the Year went to Amos Nachoum from the United States for his breathtaking image of a leopard seal about to capture a defenceless Gentoo penguin (below). Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leopard seal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leopard seal was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near leopard seal

Cite this Entry

“Leopard seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leopard%20seal. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on leopard seal

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!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY