North Pacific right whale

noun

variants or less commonly northern Pacific right whale

: a chiefly black right whale (Eubalaena japonica) of temperate and subpolar waters of the Pacific Ocean that was formerly classified with the North Atlantic right whale as a single species

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!