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Definition of killer whale

killer whale

Plural:killer whales
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• noun

1

A large, highly intelligent, predatory toothed whale (Orcinus orca) belonging to the dolphin family, characterized by its striking black-and-white coloration and found in all the world's oceans.

Example

"During our cruise in Alaska, we were lucky enough to spot a pod of killer whales hunting near the shoreline."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for killer whale

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite the name, the killer whale is actually the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family, not a true whale. Many scientists and conservationists prefer the term 'orca' to avoid the negative, violent connotations of 'killer'.

• Nearby Words

kill
killdeer
killer
killer whale
killifish
killing
kiln

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Killer whale. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/killer-whale
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