river dolphin

noun

: any of various small, toothed whales (as of the families Platanistidae and Iniidae) that chiefly inhabit rivers of South America and Asia and have a rounded forehead and a snout elongated into a long beak

Examples of river dolphin 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.
Here, pink river dolphins leap through blackwater tributaries, howler monkeys roar from the canopy, and giant water lilies unfurl like floating dinner plates beneath the jungle’s cathedral-like trees. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 This soapy dish carries the spirit of a Ganges river dolphin. Katherine Larson july 16, Literary Hub, 16 July 2025 There were also reports that 209 pink and grey river dolphins were found dead in Lake Tefé, in Amazonas state, mainly due to the overheating of the waters. Simi Thambi​, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 However, one species intrigues many travelers arriving in this corner of Peru: the pink river dolphins. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for river dolphin

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of river dolphin was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“River dolphin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river%20dolphin. Accessed 29 Jul. 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!