killer whale

American

noun

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

killer whale British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of killer whale

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"These two communities of transient killer whale inhabit very different worlds and lead distinctly different lives," said Dr. Trites.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2025

The study of this threatened killer whale population, which lives in the coastal waters between Vancouver and Seattle, was started by Dr Ken Balcomb more than 50 years ago.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2025

A third type of killer whale roams the Pacific, but less is known about it; these offshore whales live farther out and prey on sharks and other large fish.

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

“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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023