harbor seal

noun

: a small hair seal (Phoca vitulina) of oceanic coasts in the northern hemisphere that often ascends rivers

Examples of harbor seal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In some sea caves, harbor seals rest in the quiet shade. Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026 Instead, keen-eyed visitors can spot resting harbor seals, shorebirds, and even a resident pair of bald eagles. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2026 Just take the rainbow trout, a favorite food of the harbor seal. Ari Daniel, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026 The death toll included 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, 22 killer whales and billions of salmon and herring eggs. Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harbor seal

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of harbor seal was in 1766

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Cite this Entry

“Harbor seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harbor%20seal. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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