Illustration of dolphin
- dolphin 1a
1
a
: any of various small marine toothed whales (family Delphinidae) with the snout more or less elongated into a beak and the neck vertebrae partially fused
Note: While not closely related, dolphins and porpoises share a physical resemblance that often leads to misidentification. Dolphins typically have cone-shaped teeth, curved dorsal fins, and elongated beaks with large mouths, while porpoises have flat, spade-shaped teeth, triangular dorsal fins, and shortened beaks with smaller mouths.
b
: any of several related chiefly freshwater toothed whales (as of the families Platanistidae and Iniidae) : river dolphin
2
3
Dolphin
: delphinus
4
: a spar or buoy for mooring boats
also
: a cluster of closely driven piles used as a fender for a dock or as a mooring or guide for boats
Examples of dolphin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Here’s my Wednesday piece on Dolphins rookies.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Plus, Willis, who played for Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley in Green Bay, isn’t guaranteed to win the starting job.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The Dolphins could also be interested in signing Willis, given his connections to new head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who previously worked with him in Green Bay.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
The denial aligned with Canada’s 2019 ban on whale and dolphin captivity, though Marineland’s animals were exempt under grandfathering provisions.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
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Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Plus, Willis, who played for Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley in Green Bay, isn’t guaranteed to win the starting job.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The Dolphins could also be interested in signing Willis, given his connections to new head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who previously worked with him in Green Bay.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
The denial aligned with Canada’s 2019 ban on whale and dolphin captivity, though Marineland’s animals were exempt under grandfathering provisions.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dolphin
Cite this Entry
“Dolphin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dolphin. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dolphin
noun
dol·phin
ˈdäl-fən 
ˈdȯl-
1
a
: any of various small whales with teeth and a long nose
b
2
: either of two active saltwater food fishes noted for their brilliant coloring
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