right whale

noun

: any of several large baleen whales (family Balaenidae and especially genus Eubalaena) that lack a dorsal fin and have very long baleen plates, an extremely large head with a V-shaped blowhole, a smooth throat, short, broad, rounded flippers, and whitish protuberances of thickened skin about the head

Illustration of right whale

Illustration of right whale

Examples of right whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The first North Atlantic right whale mom and calf duo of the season were spotted in Cape Cod Bay heading into spring, the Center for Coastal Studies announced. Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2025 The nonprofit advised consumers to avoid those lobsters, saying that endangered North Atlantic right whales were at significant risk of becoming entangled in fishing gear. Neil Vigdor, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2025 That could target rules like NOAA's vessel speed restrictions, which were intended to protect North Atlantic right whales and which industry groups oppose, according to a summary of the legislation. Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025 There are approximately 370 North Atlantic right whales are known to exist, with 70 breeding females. Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for right whale

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of right whale was in 1725

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Cite this Entry

“Right whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right%20whale. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

right whale

noun
: a large baleen whale with no fin on the back, a very large head, and small eyes near the lower part of the mouth

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