pinniped

American  

[pin-uh-ped] / ˈpɪn əˌpɛd /

adjective

1. belonging to the Pinnipedia, a suborder of carnivores with limbs adapted to an aquatic life, including the seals and walruses.

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noun

1. a pinniped animal.

pinniped British  

/ ˌpɪnɪˈpiːdɪən, ˈpɪnɪˌpɛd /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Pinnipedia, an order of aquatic placental mammals having a streamlined body and limbs specialized as flippers: includes seals, sea lions, and the walrus

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noun

1. any pinniped animal

pinniped Scientific  

/ pĭn′ə-pĕd′ /

1. Any of various carnivorous, aquatic mammals of the group Pinnipedia, which some believe is a suborder of the Carnivora but others consider a separate mammalian order. Pinnipeds have long, smooth bodies and finlike flippers for swimming. Seals and walruses are pinnipeds.

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Other Word Forms

• pinnipedian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pinniped

From the New Latin word Pinnipedia, dating back to 1835–45. See pinna, -i-, -ped, -ia

Example Sentences

Back during the 1989 pinniped invasion, South Enders briefly tried to reclaim the harbor around Pier 39.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

The puzzled pinniped was spotted in the Lancashire village of Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, after apparently swimming upstream along the River Darwen.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2023

While more research is needed to better understand the relationship between pinniped predation and salmon abundance, the report found seals and sea lions are, at the very least, a factor affecting salmon recovery.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 15, 2023

The brawny pinniped sported "a very specific mark, a wound from the previous entanglement where we rescued him before."

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2022

In addition to the higher-than-normal pinniped rescues, researchers are seeing an increase in the number of stranded dolphins.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2019