walrus

noun

wal·​rus ˈwȯl-rəs 

ˈwäl-

plural walrus or walruses

: a large gregarious marine mammal (Odobenus rosmarus of the family Odobenidae) of arctic waters related to the seals that has limbs modified into webbed flippers, long ivory tusks, a tough wrinkled hide, stiff whiskers, and a thick layer of blubber

Note: The male walrus may reach a weight of over 3700 pounds (1678 kilograms). Walrus typically inhabit moving pack ice and usually feed on organisms (such as clams and mussels) living on or near the ocean's bottom. Walrus of the northern Atlantic are considered a separate subspecies (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from the somewhat larger northern Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens).

Examples of walrus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those staff members would then go to work with the rest of the walrus herd so the other animals could get used to Uki's smell, and vice versa. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025

About 30 mammals — including whales, dolphins, dugongs, seals, walruses, otters, and beavers — started on land, before venturing into water even part time. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025

The study revealed the fur didn’t belong to boars or deer, but rather pinnipeds, or seals and walruses. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025

When a walrus is hunted, carvings are made from the ivory tusks. —Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Dutch, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Norwegian hvalros walrus, Old Norse rosmhvalr

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

walrus

noun

wal·​rus ˈwȯl-rəs 

ˈwäl-

plural walrus or walruses

: a large mammal of cold northern seas that is related to the seals and has long ivory tusks, a tough wrinkled hide with a thick layer of blubber below, stiff whiskers, and flippers used in swimming, diving, and moving about on land