1
: any of a family (Phocoenidae) of small gregarious toothed whales
especially
: a blunt-snouted usually dark gray whale (Phocoena phocoena) of the North Atlantic and North Pacific that typically ranges from 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) in length
2
: dolphin sense 1a(1)
—not used technically
Note: While not closely related, porpoises and dolphins share a physical resemblance that often leads to misidentification. Porpoises typically have flat, spade-shaped teeth, triangular dorsal fins, and shortened beaks with relatively small mouths while dolphins have cone-shaped teeth, curved dorsal fins, and elongated beaks with larger mouths.
porpoised; porpoising; porpoises
1
: to leap or plunge like a porpoise
penguins … porpoise out of the water—
David Lewis
David Lewis2
: to rise and fall repeatedly
Examples of porpoise in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 July 2024
Whales and porpoises are often spotted in the Salish Sea surrounding Vancouver Island.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2024
Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
As if on cue, dolphins porpoised in the water directly ahead.
—Emma Allen, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for porpoise 
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Noun
An aerial video released by the organization shows a pair of the porpoises swimming near the surface.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 July 2024
Whales and porpoises are often spotted in the Salish Sea surrounding Vancouver Island.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
In the afternoon, another zodiac takes you for an hour-long cruise around glaciers and alongside porpoising chinstrap penguins.
—Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
As if on cue, dolphins porpoised in the water directly ahead.
—Emma Allen, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for porpoise
Dictionary Entries Near porpoise
Cite this Entry
“Porpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porpoise. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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