plural orcas or orca
: a relatively small toothed whale (Orcinus orca of the family Delphinidae) that is black above with white underparts and white oval-shaped patches behind the eyes : killer whale
Orcas are … the most agile and streamlined of the cetaceans. Found throughout the world, they are intelligent, social, and matriarchal.—
Marguerite Holloway
Marguerite HollowayAt the end of the food chain sustained by the krill is the orca … a spectacular animal patterned in black and white, that hunts in groups of up to thirty or forty, feeding on penguins, porpoises and seals.—John Vandenbeld
John VandenbeldThere they were, wild orcas. Adrenaline rushed through my body, but I clung to the dock. I knew nothing of these waters or this northern wilderness.—Alexandra Morton
Alexandra Morton… nowhere in the world are orca easier to see than on Puget Sound, where new whale-watching cruises bring you close to one of the few resident populations.—Sunset
SunsetExamples of orca in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The orca attacks have worsened the patients’ conditions, so everyone on the tender puts cotton in their ears and returns to the cruise ship while Cap’n blasts a sound cannon at them.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
In terms of weight, orcas get more done than elephants in a shorter time, producing calves that weigh about 400 pounds.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
Researchers concluded that orcas in the Gulf of Mexico may be preying on prickly sharks as a result of fishing activity, which has led to a dearth of top predators in the area.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2025
Transient orcas usually stick to a diet of sea mammals and squid, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, making this bird-hunting behavior a rare sight.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
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Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
In terms of weight, orcas get more done than elephants in a shorter time, producing calves that weigh about 400 pounds.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
Researchers concluded that orcas in the Gulf of Mexico may be preying on prickly sharks as a result of fishing activity, which has led to a dearth of top predators in the area.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2025
Transient orcas usually stick to a diet of sea mammals and squid, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, making this bird-hunting behavior a rare sight.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for orca
Cite this Entry
“Orca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orca. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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