hammerhead

American  

[ham-er-hed] / ˈhæm ərˌhɛd /

noun

hammerheads plural

1. the part of a hammer designed for striking.

2. a shark of the genus Sphyrna, especially S. zygaena, having the head expanded laterally so as to resemble a double-headed hammer, sometimes dangerous to swimmers.

3. Also called hammerkop.  a brown heronlike African bird, Scopus umbretta, having the head so crested as to resemble a claw hammer.

4. flatheaded borer.

5. Slang. blockhead; dunce; lout.

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hammerhead British  

/ ˈhæməˌhɛd /

noun

1. any shark of the genus Sphyrna and family Sphyrnidae, having a flattened hammer-shaped head

2. a heavily built tropical African wading bird, Scopus umbretta, related to the herons, having a dark plumage and a long backward-pointing crest: family Scopidae, order Ciconiiformes

3. a large African fruit bat, Hypsignathus monstrosus, with a large square head and hammer-shaped muzzle

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hammerheaded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hammerheads
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hammerhead

First recorded in 1525–35; hammer + head

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hammerhead hammerheads

So instead of getting swept away by the narrative, I just settled in to enjoy the details: hammerhead sharks twisted into pickaxes, ships that scuttle like crabs, the drama of an underwater scream: “Guh-glurrgggh!”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2025

This includes groups of special sharks, such as endangered hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.

From NewsForKids.net ● Apr. 2, 2024

Kaneohe Bay is home to coral reefs, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond and a breeding ground for hammerhead sharks.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2023

It lacks the blunt face of a hammerhead or the gummy grin of a great white.

From Slate ● Nov. 20, 2023

They jutted out from either side of his head, staring over his shoulders, so his head was much wider than it should’ve been, kind of like a hammerhead shark’s.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

Currently, 24 threatened species have international legal protection – including mako, angel, threshers and hammerheads.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025

The researchers were surprised to find that not only did the RNA polymerase ribozyme accurately replicate functional hammerheads, but over time, new variations of the hammerheads began to emerge.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

But unlike most fish, hammerheads give birth to live young, so researchers have not been able to learn much about the development of any of the 10 or so species.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 4, 2023

Alongside images and videos of humpbacks, hammerheads, dolphins, bluefish and many other species, he writes captions that range from childhood memories and research on the effects of fishing policy to explanations of animal behavior.

From New York Times ● Sep. 15, 2023

For example, among the objects recovered were both a large anvil and a small anvil, two stone hammerheads commonly used in metalworking, and several stone polishers.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler