right whale

noun

: any of several large baleen whales (family Balaenidae and especially genus Eubalaena) that lack a dorsal fin and have very long baleen plates, an extremely large head with a V-shaped blowhole, a smooth throat, short, broad, rounded flippers, and whitish protuberances of thickened skin about the head

Illustration of right whale

Examples of right whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Boaters are being urged to keep a safe distance of at least 100 to 600 feet from humpback whales — and at least 1,500 feet from endangered North Atlantic right whales, as required by federal law. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026

Seafood Watch placed lobster on its list of seafood to avoid because of the threat posed to rare whales, such as the North Atlantic right whale, by potential entanglement in fishing gear. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

His grandfather ran across great white sharks; his father, orcas; Hubbard himself has crossed paths with pilot whales, a right whale and one of the largest leatherback turtles he's ever seen. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

There are only about 380 North Atlantic right whales remaining. — Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for right whale

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

right whale

noun

: a large baleen whale with no fin on the back, a very large head, and small eyes near the lower part of the mouth