Illustration of fur seal
fur seal
noun
: any of various eared seals that have a double coat with a dense soft underfur and were hunted especially formerly for their desirable pelts:
a
: a large seal (Callorhinus ursinus) of the northern Pacific Ocean having its main breeding rookery on Pribilof Island in the Bering Sea
called also northern fur seal
b
: any of a genus (Arctocephalus) of seals chiefly of the southern hemisphere
called also southern fur seal
Examples of fur seal in a Sentence
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For countless centuries, this rocky outcrop has hosted generations of fur seals alongside soaring seabirds and colorful fish, with each species contributing to the rich biodiversity that’s become world-renowned across the Western Cape.
—
Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
New Zealand fur seals are distinguished by their pointy noses, long whiskers and relatively small size, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC).
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2025
When Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation creating the department, in 1903, it was tasked with applying immigration law, taking the census, and protecting Alaskan fur seals.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
In fifty years, more than a million fur seals were hunted.
—Sebastian Modak, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2023
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Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
New Zealand fur seals are distinguished by their pointy noses, long whiskers and relatively small size, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC).
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2025
When Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation creating the department, in 1903, it was tasked with applying immigration law, taking the census, and protecting Alaskan fur seals.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
In fifty years, more than a million fur seals were hunted.
—Sebastian Modak, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for fur seal
Cite this Entry
“Fur seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fur%20seal. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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