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Definition of steller sea lion
steller sea lion
Plural:Steller sea lions
• noun
1
A large species of sea lion native to the northern Pacific Ocean, recognized as the largest of the eared seals and characterized by a robust body, a light yellowish to tawny coat, and a distinctive deep roar.
Example
"During our coastal wildlife tour in Alaska, we observed a massive male Steller sea lion resting on a rocky outcrop."
Word Nuance & Usage
Always capitalized as 'Steller sea lion' because of its namesake. It is occasionally confused with the California sea lion but can be distinguished by its much larger size, broader snout, and lighter, tawny coat.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Steller sea lion. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/steller%20sea%20lion