Illustration of sperm whale
: a very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus synonym P. catodon) that has large conical teeth in the lower jaw, a single blowhole, and a massive squarish head with a closed cavity containing a fluid mixture of spermaceti and oil, and that may reach a length in the male of nearly 60 feet (18.3 meters)
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The museum’s collection includes centuries-old books and a bottle of ambergris (a substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales), as well as elaborations on perfume’s long history.
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Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 4 July 2025
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The migrations of sperm whales are impressive, and so, too, are the travels of their teeth.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2025
The adult male sperm whale washed ashore 12 miles north of Seaside between Del Ray and Sunset Beach, according to a June 1 Instagram post by Seaside Aquarium.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
Just under half were crafted from sperm whale bones, while others had come from fin, gray, blue and either right or bowhead whales.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
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Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 4 July 2025
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
The migrations of sperm whales are impressive, and so, too, are the travels of their teeth.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2025
The adult male sperm whale washed ashore 12 miles north of Seaside between Del Ray and Sunset Beach, according to a June 1 Instagram post by Seaside Aquarium.
—Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
Just under half were crafted from sperm whale bones, while others had come from fin, gray, blue and either right or bowhead whales.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sperm whale
Cite this Entry
“Sperm whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sperm%20whale. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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