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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
Examples of right whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
North Atlantic right whales have experienced an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event since 2017.
—Emily Jones, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024
What’s true for southern right whales could also be true for other whale species, Breed says.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 20 Dec. 2024
At least 12 right whales have suffered injuries in 2024.
—Dr. Rob Moir, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2024
The findings suggest southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) have a median lifespan of about 73 years.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1725, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near right whale
Cite this Entry
“Right whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right%20whale. Accessed 7 Jan. 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
More from Merriam-Webster on right whale
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about right whale
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