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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
The reef surrounding the beaches is home to schools of fish (like barracuda and snapper), turtles, and even whale sharks.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2023
Woven throughout the property are subtle reminders of the sea and the creatures within, such as sculptures of whale sharks by Mexican artist César Menchaca using upcycled plastic and elegant lobby seating echoing the shape of a starfish.
—USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
Her other goals include becoming scuba certified, swimming with whale sharks and traveling to every continent — including Antarctica.
—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2024
Despite their imposing size, whale sharks are not a threat to humans.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024
Just 30 minutes from the airport is nearby Mactan Island, known for world-class snorkeling, whale shark sightings, and more ocean splendor.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2024
Woven throughout the property are subtle reminders of the sea and the creatures within, such as sculptures of whale sharks by Mexican artist César Menchaca using upcycled plastic and elegant lobby seating echoing the shape of a starfish.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
As previously reported, the largest shark alive today, reaching up to 20 meters long, is the whale shark, a sedate filter feeder.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Jan. 2024
Swim With Whale Sharks Isla Mujeres is one of the best places in Mexico to swim with whale sharks.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whale shark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 10 Jun. 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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