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Definition of spinner dolphin
spinner dolphin
Plural:spinner dolphins
spinner dolphin Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, slender species of dolphin (Stenella longirostris) found in off-shore tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, renowned for its highly acrobatic leaps in which it rotates rapidly around its longitudinal axis.
Example
"The marine biologists observed a large pod of spinner dolphins socializing and executing spectacular aerial displays off the coast of Hawaii."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name derives from the animal's characteristic and highly acrobatic behavior of leaping high out of the water and spinning multiple times around its longitudinal axis.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Spinner dolphin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/spinner dolphin