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
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Eleven new right whales were born this year, far below the 50 per year needed to create a stable population.
—
Nate Iglehart, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
The aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life aerial research team has flown 32 surveys off New England since December, resulting in 168 North Atlantic right whales being located, officials said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
So far this winter, aerial surveys and observers have confirmed seven right whale calves.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
Endangered right whales spotted in shipping lanes south of Massachusetts
Meanwhile last week, several basking sharks were seen off Plymouth.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 12 May 2025
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Nate Iglehart, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
The aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life aerial research team has flown 32 surveys off New England since December, resulting in 168 North Atlantic right whales being located, officials said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
So far this winter, aerial surveys and observers have confirmed seven right whale calves.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
Endangered right whales spotted in shipping lanes south of Massachusetts
Meanwhile last week, several basking sharks were seen off Plymouth.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for right whale
Cite this Entry
“Right whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right%20whale. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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