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[Russian belukha, from belyĭ]
: a toothed whale (Delphinapterus leucas) of arctic and subarctic waters having a fusiform body that is about 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 5.0 meters) long and white when mature
called also white whale
Examples of beluga in a Sentence
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That means defining how and when to see the lights themselves, and how our aurora season overlaps with the polar bears and belugas.
—
Cody Chomiak,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Twenty whales — 19 belugas and one killer whale — have died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data obtained through freedom-of-information laws and official statements.
—
ABC News,
3 June 2026
The original experiment exposed four belugas to the mirror together, in their usual social housing.
—
Federica Sgorbissa,
ArsTechnica,
24 May 2026
What makes the whale encounters extra special is that the belugas are curious creatures and highly gregarious.
—
Sarah Sekula,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beluga
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Cody Chomiak,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Twenty whales — 19 belugas and one killer whale — have died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data obtained through freedom-of-information laws and official statements.
—
ABC News,
3 June 2026
The original experiment exposed four belugas to the mirror together, in their usual social housing.
—
Federica Sgorbissa,
ArsTechnica,
24 May 2026
What makes the whale encounters extra special is that the belugas are curious creatures and highly gregarious.
—
Sarah Sekula,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beluga
Cite this Entry
“Beluga.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beluga. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beluga
noun
be·lu·ga
bə-ˈlü-gə 
: a toothed whale that becomes 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 5.0 meters) long and white when adult
called also beluga whale
Etymology
from earlier beluga "a white sturgeon," from Russian beluga (same meaning), from belyǐ "white"
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