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fin whale
noun
: a baleen whale (Balaenoptera physalus) that may attain a length of over 70 feet (21 meters) and is found chiefly in subtropical to arctic and antarctic waters worldwide
called also finback
Examples of fin whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But blue whales, humpbacks, and fin whales are on the endangered list, and the Northern right whale is just about extinct – only about 350 of them are left on Earth.
—David Pogue, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2024
Webb and Payne’s original paper on acoustic herd theory demonstrated that fin whale vocalizations—low-frequency sounds that carry long distances—could theoretically travel an astonishing 430 miles in certain areas of the ocean.
—Joanna Thompson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024
While there are no observations of orcas hunting fin whales, orcas are known to hunt and eat sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) in waters near Chilean Patagonia.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024
The scientists also discovered signs of orca tooth rake marks on the dorsal fin of a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus).
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fin whale
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fin whale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1885, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fin whale
Cite this Entry
“Fin whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fin%20whale. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
fin whale
noun
: a baleen whale that may reach a length of over 70 feet (21 meters)
More from Merriam-Webster on fin whale
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fin whale
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