whale shark
noun
: a shark (Rhincodon typus) of warm waters that has small teeth, feeds chiefly on plankton strained by its gill rakers, may sometimes attain a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish
Examples of whale shark in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Further out to sea, some of the most spectacular ocean creatures await — including giant whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean.
—
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2024
The resort town ranks high for natural beauty, including bioluminescent lagoons and whale shark tours, and safety.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024
Adult whale sharks do not stay with their young after birth, and only around 10 percent of them make it to adulthood.
—Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
There are more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, from the 7-inch dwarf lantern shark to whale sharks that can grow to over 35 feet long.
—Michael Heithaus, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whale shark 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2024
The resort town ranks high for natural beauty, including bioluminescent lagoons and whale shark tours, and safety.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024
Adult whale sharks do not stay with their young after birth, and only around 10 percent of them make it to adulthood.
—Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
There are more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, from the 7-inch dwarf lantern shark to whale sharks that can grow to over 35 feet long.
—Michael Heithaus, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whale shark
Dictionary Entries Near whale shark
Cite this Entry
“Whale shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whale%20shark. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share