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Definition of harbor porpoise

harbor porpoise

(UK: harbour porpoise)
Plural:harbor porpoises
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• noun

1

American A small, robust marine mammal of the toothed whale family (Phocoena phocoena) that inhabits the cold temperate and subarctic coastal waters of the Northern Hemisphere, easily recognized by its short, blunt snout and dark gray back.

Example

"During the ferry crossing, the marine biologist pointed out a small pod of harbor porpoises surfacing quickly for air."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for harbor porpoise

Word Nuance & Usage

The spelling 'harbor porpoise' is used in American English, whereas 'harbour porpoise' is the standard spelling in British and Commonwealth English.

• Nearby Words

harbin
harbinger
harbor
harbor porpoise
harbor seal
harborfront
harbormaster

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Harbor porpoise. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/harbor-porpoise
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