great white shark

American  

noun

1. a large shark, Carcharodon carcharias, of tropical and temperate seas, known to occasionally attack swimmers.

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Etymology

Origin of great white shark

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Toasty ocean temperatures have been linked to a great white shark sighting in Newport Beach that prompted a temporary beach closure Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

"By shedding light on the biology and ecology of the great white shark, research can help replace unfounded myths with genuine understanding."

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

It was a comment that has left fat cats like the Dodgers and New York Mets salivating at the possibility of reeling in the baseball equivalent of a great white shark before opening day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

"It is more likely than not that megalodon must have had a much slenderer body than the modern great white shark."

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2025

“A great white shark can’t survive in captivity. Most die after a few days. They won’t eat. They ram their heads into the walls of the tank.”

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt