pilot whale

American

noun

a small, common whale, Globicephala sieboldii, of tropical and temperate seas, having a bulbous head.

pilot whale British

noun

Also called: black whale. blackfish. any of several black toothed whales of the genus Globicephala, such as G. melaena, that occur in all seas except polar 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 pilot whale

First recorded in 1865–70

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.

Scientists have observed orcas mismothering before—an orca took in a baby pilot whale in 2021, for instance—but in these prior cases, the animal usually survives.

From National Geographic • Oct. 30, 2023

A pilot whale — technically a kind of dolphin — may be up to 20 feet long and weigh as much as two tons.

From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2022

The area has seen at least 11 pilot whale strandings in the past 15 years.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2022

“This is a fabulous treat for those who want us badly when it comes to pilot whale catching.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2021

Note the length of the flippers of the pilot whale in the background, relative to its overall length.

From Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic A Guide to Their Identification by Caldwell, David

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