lemon shark

noun

: a medium-sized requiem shark (Negaprion brevirostris) of warm usually inshore waters that is yellowish brown to gray above with yellow or greenish sides, often congregates in groups, and is usually harmless to humans but may attack if provoked

Examples of lemon shark 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.
In one of the bays, juvenile bull sharks coexist with lemon sharks (a species with similar size and dietary preferences) and the study found some overlap in what the two species eat, but also subtle differences. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2026 Scientists analyzed serum samples of tiger sharks, blacktip sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, Atlantic nurse sharks and lemon sharks. Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026 The camera showed dolphins under a full moon on Feb. 1, the night the cold snap hit, and has since shown manatees, parrot fish, lemon sharks and spotted eagle rays. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026 Common species in South Florida include bulls, lemon sharks, tiger sharks, black tips and Caribbean reef sharks. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025 Below, a lemon shark stealthily hunts mullet in the water. Amber X. Chen, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025 Based on these and other findings, it is now believed that the megalodon may have been closer to the present-day lemon shark in appearance. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lemon shark was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lemon shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lemon%20shark. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

lemon shark

noun
: a dangerous medium-sized shark of warm waters that is yellowish brown to gray above with yellow or greenish sides
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster