pelagic

adjective

pə-ˈla-jik How to pronounce pelagic (audio)
Definition of pelagicnext
1
as in marine
of or relating to the sea among pelagic animals the undisputed king is the blue whale, the largest creature currently roaming the face of the earth

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2
as in oceanic
of, relating to, or occurring in the open sea at one time pelagic whaling was the cornerstone of the island's economy

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pelagic For the advanced, channels around the islands work like pelagic highways, attracting more than 3,000 different marine species. — Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025 Kona Blackwater Dive is an advanced, thrilling dive over deep water (thousands of feet) to witness the nightly migration of pelagic, alien-like and larval creatures. — Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026 Sargassum includes pelagic species of brown seaweed that have their origin offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and float on its surface, according to the FWC. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 16 June 2026 The same goes for the San Diego-Scripps conservation area, except for the recreational taking of coastal pelagic species (northern anchovy, Pacific sardine, Pacific mackerel and jack mackerel) by hook and line only. — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pelagic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelagic
  1. marine
  2. oceanic
  3. deep-sea
Adjective
  • El Niño is expected to prolong an existing unrelated marine heat wave that would otherwise typically start fading between October and December, scientists say.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • People should also stay alert to local water conditions, including rip currents and the presence of other marine animals such as jellyfish.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of marine
Adjective
  • Swimming alongside oceanic manta rays and watching dolphins race beside the boat left a lasting impression, but so did the lifestyle itself.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • Panthalassa previously conducted oceanic field tests using its Ocean-1, Ocean-2, and Wavehopper designs in 2021 and 2024 to verify the stability of its power generation and navigational software.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
Definition of oceanic
Adjective
  • Vessels are pictured off coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on June 28, 2026.
    — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 4 July 2026
  • This latest milestone highlights deep-sea offshore wind as a vital strategic frontier for China’s global energy leadership and for driving the commercialization of clean technology.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026
Definition of deep-sea

Browse Nearby Words

pelages
pelagic
pelerine
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Cite this Entry

“Pelagic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelagic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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