sperm whale

noun

ˈspərm- 

: a very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus synonym P. catodon) that has large conical teeth in the lower jaw, a single blowhole, and a massive squarish head with a closed cavity containing a fluid mixture of spermaceti and oil, and that may reach a length in the male of nearly 60 feet (18.3 meters)

Illustration of sperm whale

Examples of sperm whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Before he was swallowed by one in Whalefall, Austin Abrams flew to Dominica to see a sperm whale up close. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026

This is below the $11 million that the studio was projecting for director Brian Duffield’s survival thriller starring Austin Abrams as a scuba diver swallowed by a sperm whale. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026

One whale metaphor that lands quite nicely is how the sperm whale calls out for help when in distress, which inspires a Hail Mary plan in Jay’s fight for freedom from the belly of the beast. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Early in his journey, Jay is swallowed whole by a sperm whale. — Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for spermaceti whale

First Known Use

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sperm whale

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

Kids Definition

sperm whale

noun

: a large toothed whale with a large chamber in the skull that contains a fluid mixture of spermaceti and oil