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Definition of california sea lion

california sea lion

Plural:California sea lions
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• noun

1

North American A highly intelligent, eared seal (Zalophus californianus) native to the Pacific coast of North America, characterized by its sleek brown body, broad front flippers, loud barking vocalizations, and frequent presence in marine park exhibits.

Example

"We watched a playful California sea lion gracefully swimming through the kelp forest exhibit at the aquarium."

Word Nuance & Usage

Often confused with true seals; however, California sea lions have visible external ear flaps, large front flippers, and the ability to rotate their hind flippers to 'walk' on land.

• Nearby Words

california king snake
california poppy
california quail
california sea lion
caliper
caliph
caliphate

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of California sea lion. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/california-sea-lion
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