sea serpent

noun

: a large marine animal resembling a serpent often reported to have been seen but never proved to exist

Examples of sea serpent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Until the early 20th century, stories of shark attacks were considered mariners’ tall tales, lumped in with mermaid and sea serpent sightings. Hans Walters, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025 Start with her novel The Essex Serpent, which brings a contemporary psychoanalytical lens to a lurid Victorian fantasia of a plot about a massive sea serpent terrorizing a small town. Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Researchers will undoubtedly keep delving deep to investigate how so many real-life sea serpents thrived on our world. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025 It’s presumed to be the real animal behind some sea serpent sightings. David Bressan, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sea serpent

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea serpent was in 1774

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Cite this Entry

“Sea serpent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20serpent. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

sea serpent

noun
: a large marine animal resembling a snake often reported to have been seen but never proved to be real

More from Merriam-Webster on sea serpent

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