Illustration of right whale
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 Pacific right whales are baleen whales that can grow to be 64 feet long and 70 years old if left alone.
—
Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 28 May 2024
It is estimated that between 21,000 and 30,000 right whales were slaughtered in the North Pacific in a single decade.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for right whale 
Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 28 May 2024
It is estimated that between 21,000 and 30,000 right whales were slaughtered in the North Pacific in a single decade.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for right whale
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'right 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 right whale
Cite this Entry
“Right whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right%20whale. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share