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Definition of pinniped

pinniped

/ˈpɪn.ɪ.pɛd/
Plural:pinnipeds
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pinniped Lexical Profile

pinniped Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A carnivorous aquatic mammal of the clade Pinnipedia, characterized by having flippers for limbs, which includes true seals, eared seals, and walruses.

Example

"The marine biologist dedicated her career to studying how diminishing ice sheets impact the migratory patterns of Arctic pinnipeds."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pinniped

Word Nuance & Usage

While "seal" is often used colloquially to describe these animals, "pinniped" is the precise scientific term that explicitly encompasses true seals, eared seals (like sea lions), and walruses.

• Nearby Words

pink kissing gourami
pink lady's slipper
pink salmon
pinniped
pintail
pinto bean
pinus

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Modern Latin 'Pinnipedia', a taxonomic group coined in the 19th century from the Latin words 'pinna' (fin or wing) and 'pes' or 'pedis' (foot), directly referencing their flipper-like limbs.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pinniped. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pinniped
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