pinniped

noun

pin·​ni·​ped ˈpi-nə-ˌped 

: any of an order or suborder (Pinnipedia) of aquatic carnivorous mammals (such as a seal or walrus) with all four limbs modified into flippers

pinniped adjective

Examples of pinniped in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a lot of barking, and suddenly the big fella hops onto the wood platform, sending the other pinnipeds jostling for a new spot in the sun or diving back into the water. —Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

An intrepid sea lion nicknamed Chonkers is waddling his way into the hearts of tourists and locals who have flocked to San Francisco's Pier 39 for a glimpse of the massive pinniped. —ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026

There’s even a whole suborder of carnivores called the pinnipeds, which includes seals, sea lions, and walruses who move between land and water. —Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026

Patty Leonard, the aquarium’s associate curator of pinnipeds, confirmed as much. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Latin pinna + ped-, pes foot — more at foot

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pinniped

noun

pin·​ni·​ped ˈpi-nə-ˌped 

: any of a group of mammals (as seals, sea lions, and walruses) that typically live in oceans but bear their young on land or on floating sheets of ice, have front and hind flippers, and eat other animals (as fish)