whale shark
noun
: a shark (Rhincodon typus) of warm waters that has small teeth, feeds chiefly on plankton strained by its gill rakers, may sometimes attain a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish
Examples of whale shark in a Sentence
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Another winning photograph shows a marine biologist off of western Australia sampling the microbes living on the skin of a wild whale shark.
—
Ari Daniel, NPR, 11 June 2026
This pristine marine wonderland is home to over 450 species of marine life, including the world-famous whale sharks, as well as 250 diverse coral species.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
From July to October, spot whale sharks and manta rays flocking by the hundreds, or save your trip for November through April to enjoy its dry season, with minimal rainfall, abundant sunshine (eight hours of sun per days’ worth), and high visibility for divers.
—Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
The fish have been found in the gills and cloacal openings of whale sharks and the mouths of lemon sharks.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
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Ari Daniel, NPR, 11 June 2026
This pristine marine wonderland is home to over 450 species of marine life, including the world-famous whale sharks, as well as 250 diverse coral species.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
From July to October, spot whale sharks and manta rays flocking by the hundreds, or save your trip for November through April to enjoy its dry season, with minimal rainfall, abundant sunshine (eight hours of sun per days’ worth), and high visibility for divers.
—Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
The fish have been found in the gills and cloacal openings of whale sharks and the mouths of lemon sharks.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for whale shark
Cite this Entry
“Whale shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whale%20shark. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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