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
capitalized
: 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
In front of this, a huge sculpture of a whale’s tail is another reminder of the ocean life outside the walls—where guests can set sail for day trips, surrounded by giddy dolphins, and where the edge of Morocco can be seen on a clear day.
—
Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
While there, Zito had a sea lion eat fish out of the Cup and posed for a photo of a dolphins leaping toward him and the Cup up on a podium while Zito held out a Panthers championship flag.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 July 2025
The whale made for such a show boaters followed it and ultimately came across a pod of common dolphins, the group said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
The public kayak launch is located at the trailhead of the North Trail, and anyone paddling around the lake may come across river otters, osprey, and even dolphins.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 25 July 2025
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Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
While there, Zito had a sea lion eat fish out of the Cup and posed for a photo of a dolphins leaping toward him and the Cup up on a podium while Zito held out a Panthers championship flag.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 July 2025
The whale made for such a show boaters followed it and ultimately came across a pod of common dolphins, the group said.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
The public kayak launch is located at the trailhead of the North Trail, and anyone paddling around the lake may come across river otters, osprey, and even dolphins.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dolphin
Cite this Entry
“Dolphin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dolphin. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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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