great white shark

noun

: a large mackerel shark (Carcharodon carcharias) of warm seas that is bluish when young but becomes whitish with age and has been known to attack humans

called also white shark

see shark illustration

Examples of great white shark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Share [Findings] An orca acting alone killed a great white shark and ate its liver. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 Policies protecting marine wildlife have increased Cape Cod’s great white shark population, which is now one of the densest seasonal concentrations of white sharks in the world, as National Geographic’s Alexandra Owens reported last year. Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024 The show brings viewers up close with deadly animals such as camouflaging cuttlefish and hippos to ferocious great white sharks and venomous spiders and snakes. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2024 This 1978 sequel to Steven Spielberg’s terrifying classic about a murderous great white shark was basically a waterlogged remake of the original, with a group of obnoxious teens winding up as shark bait for a new predator. Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for great white shark 

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of great white shark was in 1774

Dictionary Entries Near great white shark

Cite this Entry

“Great white shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20white%20shark. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

great white shark

noun
: a large and dangerous shark of warm seas that is quick to attack human beings and is bluish when young but becomes whitish with age

Medical Definition

great white shark

noun
: a large shark (Carcharodon carcharias of the family Lamnidae) that is bluish when young but becomes whitish with age and has been known to attack humans

called also white shark

More from Merriam-Webster on great white shark

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