blue whale

noun

: a very large baleen whale (Balaenoptera musculus synonym Sibbaldus musculus) that may reach a weight of 150 tons (136 metric tons) and a length of 100 feet (30 meters) and is generally considered the largest living animal

Illustration of blue whale

Illustration of blue whale

Examples of blue whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This island nation of 22 million is a place where leopards slip like a whisper through the undergrowth, blue whales breach offshore, tea estates paint the hill region a lush green, and ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples whisper stories of centuries past. Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025 Offshore, gray whales breach in winter and blue whales glide through in summer, turning the sea into a stage for nature’s greatest performances. Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024 Ants, for instance, have an average lifespan of a year or two while blue whales can live up to 100 years under optimal conditions. Scott Travers, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024 The second-largest whale species after blue whales, fin whales are classified as endangered species, according to NOAA. Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for blue whale 

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blue whale was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near blue whale

Cite this Entry

“Blue whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20whale. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

blue whale

noun
: a whale that may reach a weight of 150 tons (135 metric tons) and a length of 100 feet (30 meters) and is generally considered the largest living animal

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