Illustration of minke whale
variants
or less commonly minke
: a small gray to black baleen whale (genus Balaenoptera) with a whitish underside and a relatively narrow, pointed snout:
a
: one (B. acutorostrata) chiefly of the northern hemisphere
called also common minke whale, northern minke whale
b
: one (B. bonaerensis) of the southern hemisphere that was formerly classified in the same species as the northern form
called also Antarctic minke, southern minke whale
see rorqual
Examples of minke whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Because of the challenges of hunting and harvesting blue whales, Szabo’s team of researchers had expected to find more evidence of smaller whales like pilot whales and minke whales, which would have been easier to drive ashore and butcher and, today at least, are more abundant.
—
Andrew Chapman, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
Two orcas, the matriarchs among the group of about 30 whales, on April 2 circled a 20-foot-long minke whale, according to Colleen Talty, a research biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
So rare, in fact, that Talty said this is only the sixth time researchers have seen orcas hunt a minke whale in Monterey Bay since 1991.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
From a stable population of more than 100,000 minke whales in the North Atlantic, the hunters of Tasiilaq typically take about a dozen.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
From a stable population of over 100,000 minke whales in the North Atlantic the hunters of Tasiilaq typically take less than a dozen.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2024
Within minutes, a minke whale’s sleek back rose just above the surface of the water.
—Jennifer Billock, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2023
For the minke whale, the increase in deaths is likely due to biological processes from infectious diseases, DiGiovanni said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023
Local guides, such as Paul Hudd of JP Orkney, have the low down on the best places to see minke whales, basking sharks, orcas, and dolphins, as well as arranging personal island tours with Malcolm Macrae, the 12th Laird of Breckness.
—Lucy Alexander, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2023
Andrew Chapman, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
Two orcas, the matriarchs among the group of about 30 whales, on April 2 circled a 20-foot-long minke whale, according to Colleen Talty, a research biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
So rare, in fact, that Talty said this is only the sixth time researchers have seen orcas hunt a minke whale in Monterey Bay since 1991.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
From a stable population of more than 100,000 minke whales in the North Atlantic, the hunters of Tasiilaq typically take about a dozen.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
From a stable population of over 100,000 minke whales in the North Atlantic the hunters of Tasiilaq typically take less than a dozen.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2024
Within minutes, a minke whale’s sleek back rose just above the surface of the water.
—Jennifer Billock, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2023
For the minke whale, the increase in deaths is likely due to biological processes from infectious diseases, DiGiovanni said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023
Local guides, such as Paul Hudd of JP Orkney, have the low down on the best places to see minke whales, basking sharks, orcas, and dolphins, as well as arranging personal island tours with Malcolm Macrae, the 12th Laird of Breckness.
—Lucy Alexander, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'minke whale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near minke whale
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“Minke whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minke%20whale. Accessed 4 Jun. 2024.
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