walrus

noun

wal·​rus ˈwȯl-rəs How to pronounce walrus (audio)
ˈwäl-
plural walrus or walruses
: a large gregarious marine mammal (Odobenus rosmarus of the family Odobenidae) of arctic waters related to the seals that has limbs modified into webbed flippers, long ivory tusks, a tough wrinkled hide, stiff whiskers, and a thick layer of blubber

Note: The male walrus may reach a weight of over 3700 pounds (1678 kilograms). Walrus typically inhabit moving pack ice and usually feed on organisms (such as clams and mussels) living on or near the ocean's bottom. Walrus of the northern Atlantic are considered a separate subspecies (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from the somewhat larger northern Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens).

Examples of walrus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dragons and zebras joined the lions and walruses, as did a robot and a totem built with prosthetic legs. Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 18 June 2026 This has led some larvae lovers to push for a rebrand, such as reframing larvae as adorable newborn flies, wee walruses, or maggies. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 June 2026 While Svalbard's polar bear rules mandate a 500-meter viewing distance, walruses are, generally speaking, much more approachable, with a 150-meter viewing distance in place. Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 June 2026 The Arctic has also topped must-visit lists, where travelers glide through icy landscapes of majestic glaciers and deep fjords, populated by wildlife like polar bears, walruses, whales, reindeer, and Arctic foxes. Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for walrus

Word History

Etymology

Dutch, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Norwegian hvalros walrus, Old Norse rosmhvalr

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of walrus was in 1728

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Walrus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walrus. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

walrus

noun
wal·​rus ˈwȯl-rəs How to pronounce walrus (audio)
ˈwäl-
plural walrus or walruses
: a large mammal of cold northern seas that is related to the seals and has long ivory tusks, a tough wrinkled hide with a thick layer of blubber below, stiff whiskers, and flippers used in swimming, diving, and moving about on land

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