San Francisco Bay

American  

noun

1. a bay in western California: the harbor of San Francisco; connected with the Pacific Ocean by the Golden Gate strait. 50 miles (80 kilometers) long; 3–12 miles (5–19 kilometers) wide.

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San Francisco Bay British  

noun

1. an inlet of the Pacific in W California, linked with the open sea by the Golden Gate strait. Length: about 80 km (50 miles). Greatest width: 19 km (12 miles)

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San Francisco Bay Cultural  

1. Located in northern California; entered from the Pacific Ocean through a strait called the Golden Gate.

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Example Sentences

As climate change alters the food chain in the Arctic, more and more gray whales are moving into San Francisco Bay in search of food, putting them in harm’s way.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

To stop the growing number of ships colliding with migrating whales, researchers are deploying a network of AI-powered cameras in the San Francisco Bay.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The famished whales are increasingly seeking food in the San Francisco Bay, a bustling shipping area, making them vulnerable to vessel traffic.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The police activity was the result of a two-month operation targeting a group of riders who police said took over city streets and generally disrupted public safety across the San Francisco Bay Area.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

Are there really flags in Chinatown signaling what stowaways have arrived in San Francisco Bay, their names, and which ships they came on?

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston