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killer whale
noun
: a relatively small toothed whale (Orcinus orca of the family Delphinidae) that is black above with white underparts and white oval-shaped patches behind the eyes, attains a length of 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters), typically hunts in groups, and preys chiefly on sea mammals (such as seals, sea lions, and other whales), large fish, and squid
called also orca
Examples of killer whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pods of killer whales, or orcas, stay around the San Juan Islands year-round.
—Catherine Garcia, theweek, 25 Nov. 2024
Boaters are already following the experts' suggestions in areas where the killer whales are interacting with their vessels and the results are encouraging.
—Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 9 June 2024
Under these circumstances, killer whales have been known to hunt and prey on moose.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
The technology found 303 of them in Peru, depicting parrots, cats, monkeys, killer whales, and more.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 30 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1884, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near killer whale
Cite this Entry
“Killer whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer%20whale. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
killer whale
noun
kill·er whale
ˈkil-ər-
: a flesh-eating mostly black toothed whale 20 to 30 feet (about 6 to 9 meters) long that travels in groups
More from Merriam-Webster on killer whale
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about killer whale
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