whale shark

noun

: a shark (Rhincodon typus) of warm waters that has small teeth, feeds chiefly on plankton strained by its gill rakers, may sometimes attain a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish

Examples of whale shark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Isla Mujeres, an island near Cancun, is a great place to take an early morning dive with whale sharks. —Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026

Continue reading … PHOTO BOMB — Massive whale shark catches snorkeler by surprise. —FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Currents sweeping in from the Gulf of Oman carry nutrients and larvae that fuel plankton blooms and coral reefs, while deeper upwellings draw in reef fish and migratory whale sharks that pass through seasonally. —Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026

Exotic species such as whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and bluefin tuna were seen by boaters and anglers who marveled at the sea creatures more common in tropical waters. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whale shark

• disembark
• matriarch
• meadowlark
• patriarch
• watermark
• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark

Kids Definition

whale shark

noun

: a harmless shark of warm waters that feeds chiefly on plankton, may sometimes grow to a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish