harbor seal

American  

noun

1. a small, spotted seal, Phoca vitulina, of the Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe and the Pacific coast of northern North America.

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Etymology

Origin of harbor seal

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

harbor seal

Diving in a kelp forest in Monterey Bay recently, I watched a tubby 200-pound harbor seal follow a fellow diver, nibbling on his flippers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2025

But since no one had ever seen a wolf kill a harbor seal or sea otter, the researchers began a beach stakeout, setting up both camera traps and literally sitting there with cameras in hand.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 14, 2023

Like human babies, harbor seal pups learn to change their pitch to target a parent's eardrums.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 22, 2023

Considered one of the world’s most important areas for migratory birds, the Wadden Sea is also home to marine mammals such as the harbor seal, gray seal and harbor porpoise.

From New York Times ● Jul. 26, 2023

“Never no turkey. You got a harbor seal there.”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson