right whale

noun

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of right whale

: 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

Recent Examples of right whale from the Web

Aerial surveys meant to locate endangered North Atlantic right whales in recent decades have revealed massive groups of the world's second-largest fish.

— nick caloyianis, National Geographic, "Swarms of Huge Sharks Discovered, Baffling Experts," 12 Apr. 2018
Rather than always making the same call in response to the same stimuli, North Atlantic right whales are capable of changing their vocalizations.

— jason g. goldman, Scientific American, "Right Whales Seem To Think Before They Speak," 9 Apr. 2018
George writes in the winter of 2000, only one right whale calf was spotted.

— doug criss, CNN, "North Atlantic right whales may be on edge of extinction. There's been zero births this year," 27 Mar. 2018
Seventeen right whales died in 2017 off Cape Cod and in Canadian waters.

— bruce henderson, charlotteobserver, "Rare whales that cruise Carolinas coast barely survive. Their chances just got worse. | Charlotte Observer," 27 Mar. 2018
In 2011, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that there were around 465 individual right whales in US waters.

— shelby webb, Houston Chronicle, "At the Houston Fishing Expo, a chance to pass on traditions," 4 Mar. 2018
However, North Atlantic right whales have been hit particularly hard by the fishing industry.

— kristin hugo, Newsweek, "Snow Crab Fishery Implicated in Whale Deaths, Loses Sustainability Certification," 21 Mar. 2018
The North Atlantic right whale is already one of the most endangered creatures on earth, and all indications are its situation is rapidly getting worse.

— karen weintraub, New York Times, "No Sign of Newborn North Atlantic Whales This Breeding Season," 28 Feb. 2018
Over the past year, there have been a record 18 deaths and zero births, and the population of North Atlantic right whales has dwindled.

— world staff, USA TODAY, "'Extinction is around the corner' for Atlantic right whales, experts say," 2 Mar. 2018

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