Illustration of minke whale
variants
or less commonly minke
: a small gray to black baleen whale (genus Balaenoptera) with a whitish underside and a relatively narrow, pointed snout:
a
: one (B. acutorostrata) chiefly of the northern hemisphere
called also common minke whale, northern minke whale
b
: one (B. bonaerensis) of the southern hemisphere that was formerly classified in the same species as the northern form
called also Antarctic minke, southern minke whale
see rorqual
Examples of minke whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists identified one of the modern cadavers as a minke whale, or Balaenoptera acutorostrata, that measured about 10 feet (3 meters) long.
—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Rehabilitators have seen great success with rescuing and treating dolphins, manatees and smaller whales such as pilot and minke whales.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 May 2026
Others who pass through include minke whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, orcas, and the species of dolphin known as the false killer whale.
—
Alanna Bennett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Apr. 2026
But considering these crafty medieval Norwegians were hunting minke whales, no wonder.
—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for minke whale
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Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Rehabilitators have seen great success with rescuing and treating dolphins, manatees and smaller whales such as pilot and minke whales.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 May 2026
Others who pass through include minke whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, orcas, and the species of dolphin known as the false killer whale.
—
Alanna Bennett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Apr. 2026
But considering these crafty medieval Norwegians were hunting minke whales, no wonder.
—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for minke whale
Cite this Entry
“Minke whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minke%20whale. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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