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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There are estimated to be about 380 right whales left in the world.
—
Neal Riley, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
There are only about 380 right whales left.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Why These Whales Are So Vulnerable NOAA Fisheries has listed North Atlantic right whales as endangered since 1970.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
There are approximately 380 North Atlantic right whales remaining.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
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Neal Riley, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
There are only about 380 right whales left.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Why These Whales Are So Vulnerable NOAA Fisheries has listed North Atlantic right whales as endangered since 1970.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
There are approximately 380 North Atlantic right whales remaining.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
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 1 May. 2026.
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