killer whale

American  

noun

1. any of several predatory dolphins, especially the black-and-white Orcinus orca, found in all seas.

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killer whale British  

noun

1. Also called: killer.   grampus.   orc.  a predatory black-and-white toothed whale, Orcinus orca, with a large erect dorsal fin, most common in cold seas: family Delphinidae

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Etymology

Origin of killer whale

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The centre, which studies the Southern Resident killer whale and works on its conservation, said Tahlequah had now lost two out of four documented calves - both of which were female.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2025

The enhanced detail has allowed scientists to “look back through time,” Morin said, and answer questions about which killer whale populations are closely related — or not — and when differences emerged.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2024

Tanned hides of elk and deer are stretched onto drums, for example, and animals like the killer whale are revered symbols of the hunt itself.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 19, 2024

Three ecotypes of killer whale live along the coasts of California and Oregon: 'residents', 'transients', and 'offshores'.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2024

“The killer whale took us as far as the Columbia River. Then he passed the harness to a couple of twelve-foot sturgeons.”

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan