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killer whale
noun
: a relatively small toothed whale (Orcinus orca of the family Delphinidae) that is black above with white underparts and white oval-shaped patches behind the eyes, attains a length of 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters), typically hunts in groups, and preys chiefly on sea mammals (such as seals, sea lions, and other whales), large fish, and squid
called also orca
Examples of killer whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Under these circumstances, killer whales have been known to hunt and prey on moose.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
The technology found 303 of them in Peru, depicting parrots, cats, monkeys, killer whales, and more.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 30 Sep. 2024
But with binoculars trained on the horizon, the boat’s captain is on the lookout for something potentially far more unsettling: orcas, also known as killer whales, who in recent years have taken to slamming boats with alarming regularity.
—Josh Lederman, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2024
The interactions, so far, have remained isolated to a small population of killer whales found off the coast of Spain and Portugal.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 June 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1884, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near killer whale
Cite this Entry
“Killer whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer%20whale. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
killer whale
noun
kill·er whale
ˈkil-ər-
: a flesh-eating mostly black toothed whale 20 to 30 feet (about 6 to 9 meters) long that travels in groups
More from Merriam-Webster on killer whale
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about killer whale
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