sea lion

noun

: any of several Pacific eared seals (such as genera Eumetopias and Zalophus) that are usually larger than the related fur seals and lack a thick underfur

Examples of sea lion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As of early 2023, the Navy still trained a reported 77 dolphins and 47 sea lions. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Between the county and the USDA, MS Leisure Company received notices that several areas in the park were unsafe and not structurally sound, including enclosures for the whales, penguins, parrots, dolphins and sea lions. Ayana Archie, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Also offered are various animal encounters, like swimming with dolphins, feeding an endangered sea turtle, or painting with sea lions that youngsters are sure to love. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Harassing or feeding sea lions can also interrupt their natural behaviors, according to NOAA. Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024 Throughout each itinerary will be ample opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking with expert guides, not to mention wildlife viewing of some of the islands' most famous inhabitants, including blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2024 The 2-hour journey includes opportunities to see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and an array of migratory birds, along with the Candelabra of the Andes, a mysterious geoglyph that stands watch over the Ica coastline. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 7 Feb. 2024 The whales typically hunt in packs and ambush larger prey like seals, other whales, and sea lions. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Populations of California’s other pinniped species, such as harbor seals and sea lions, also have rebounded to healthy levels since passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, said Allen. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sea lion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea lion was in 1697

Dictionary Entries Near sea lion

Cite this Entry

“Sea lion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20lion. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sea lion

noun
: any of several large Pacific seals that have small ears on the outside of the body

More from Merriam-Webster on sea lion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!