bottlenose dolphin

noun

bot·​tle·​nose dolphin ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōz- 

variants or less commonly bottle-nosed dolphin

ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōzd- 

or bottlenose

: a relatively small chiefly gray toothed whale (Tursiops truncatus) of temperate to tropical waters that has a prominent beak and falcate dorsal fin, reaches a length of 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.6 meters), and is typically found in groups

also : a related whale (T. aduncus) of waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean

Examples of bottlenose dolphin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Four dolphins died, green water and condemned buildings Concerns over conditions at the park began circling in October when three bottlenose dolphins died in just one week. —Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Brookfield’s bottlenose dolphins returned home in early 2024 after being housed at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota, for more than a year. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025

Specifically, the researchers recorded a grand total of 1,288 open-mouth displays amongst bottlenose dolphins in interactive, social play settings—92% of which were dolphin–dolphin events. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Onlookers also got to see five gray whales, 300 other northern right whale dolphins, 20 Risso’s dolphins, five humpback whales and two bottlenose dolphins the same day, the group said on Facebook. —Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bottlenose dolphin

noun

bot·​tle·​nose dolphin

ˌbät-ᵊl-ˌnōz-

: a medium-sized stout-bodied whale with teeth and a short snout