porpoise

American  

[pawr-puhs] / ˈpɔr pəs /

noun

plural

porpoise,

plural

porpoises

1. any of several small, gregarious cetacean mammals of the genus Phocoena, usually blackish above and paler beneath, and having a blunt, rounded snout, especially the common porpoise, P. phocoena, of both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

2. any of several small cetacean mammals, as the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis.

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verb (used without object)

porpoised, porpoising

1. (of a speeding motorboat) to leap clear of the water after striking a wave.

2. (of a torpedo) to appear above the surface of the water.

3. to move forward with a rising and falling motion in the manner of a porpoise.

   The car has a tendency to porpoise when overloaded.

porpoise British  

/ ˈpɔːpəs /

noun

1. any of various small cetacean mammals of the genus Phocaena and related genera, having a blunt snout and many teeth: family Delphinidae (or Phocaenidae )

2. (not in technical use) any of various related cetaceans, esp the dolphin

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Other Word Forms

• porpoiselike adjective

Etymology

Origin of porpoise

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English porpoys, from Middle French porpois, from unattested Vulgar Latin porcopiscis “hog fish,” for Latin porcus marīnus “sea hog”

Explanation

Porpoises are ocean mammals that are very similar to dolphins. Most porpoises prefer cold Northern waters and stay close to the shore. Like their close relatives, dolphins and orcas, porpoises are toothed whales, descendants of hoofed land animals like the hippopotamus. It's not always easy to tell a porpoise from a dolphin, but they have shorter noses, smaller mouths, and differently shaped teeth. They're also not quite as chatty as dolphins, and don't make dolpins' distinctive whistling sound. They're just as intelligent, though.

Example Sentences

So the finless porpoise doesn't end up like this, Professor Wang and other scientists are hoping that the current complete fishing ban will continue after the initial 10 years is up.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

It is the porpoise numbers, however, that tell the most convincing story.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

"Now that those have become extinct, we're going to save the Yangtze river porpoise," Professor Wang Xi tells the BBC.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

Henry V of Shakespearean fame, hosted a feast that offered 40 different types of fish, including roast porpoise.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2024

John yanked on the line and pulled the porpoise close enough to where I could help him drag her into the boat.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin

Related Words

• mammal