elephant seal

noun

: either of two very large seals (genus Mirounga of the family Phocidae) characterized by a long inflatable proboscis:

: one (M. angustirostris) found in Pacific coastal waters from southeastern Alaska to Baja California

: one (M. leonina) found in coastal waters of subantarctic islands and Patagonia

Examples of elephant seal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Each year from December through March, the National Park Service closes areas in the park where pupping elephant seals congregate. —

Adrian Rodriguez, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2025 Tule elk wander Point Reyes and elephant seals laze on its beaches. —

Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 30 Dec. 2024 The disease is prominent across the globe, even spreading to the Antarctic, where it's killed significant numbers of penguins, elephant seals and fur seals. —

Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024 Neil is a southern elephant seal in Tasmania who enjoys knocking over traffic cones, destroying fences, and blocking traffic. —

Julie Klausner, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for elephant seal

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of elephant seal was in 1839

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Elephant seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20seal. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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