-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
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
Not even a whale shark, the biggest fish species on Earth.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024
Alongside him, other pod members, possibly including a related female, were observed in the hunts, indicating a potential specialization in targeting whale sharks.
—Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Researchers also need to understand why this pod in particular chose whale sharks as food, and also determine if all orcas employ a similar group hunting technique.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2024
In all four attacks, the killer whales teamed up to hunt whale sharks in a calculated manner.
—New Atlas, 29 Nov. 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.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1885, in the meaning defined above
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 15 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
whale shark
noun
: a harmless shark of warm waters that feeds chiefly on plankton, may sometimes grow to a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish
More from Merriam-Webster on whale shark
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whale shark
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share