walrus

noun

wal·​rus ˈwȯl-rəs How to pronounce walrus (audio)
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
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.
Thinning sea ice will also threaten other seal species, walruses and marine mammals in the region, according to the update. Nell Lewis, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 The famous car-wreck sculptor John Chamberlain hunched at the bar in his jeans and dark polo; Frosty Meyers, with his punk haircut and walrus mustache; and Larry Zox, heavyset, his wavy hair swept back, signaling for the bartender. Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 In addition to showcasing the Arctic’s raw, austere beauty and wildlife encounters such as sightings of polar bears, walruses, wolves, giant musk ox, narwhal, and snowy owls, the voyage shines a spotlight on the Indigenous people who have stewarded the region’s unusual ecosystems for 5,000 years. Robin Catalano, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025 The mobiles stir like birds or trees; the stabiles squat, grumpy and irregular, like walruses. Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for walrus

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of walrus was in 1728

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Cite this Entry

“Walrus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walrus. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

walrus

noun
wal·​rus ˈwȯl-rəs How to pronounce walrus (audio)
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

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