harp seal

noun

: a dark-faced seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) of the North Atlantic that is a variable light gray with the male usually having a dark crescent on its back and sides

Examples of harp seal 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.
Maybe the water got too cold for cod; maybe harp seals ate them. — Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 It’s known for harbor and harp seals, as well as a famed run of Atlantic salmon that occurs in summer and fall. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026 As a result, the hooded seal is listed as endangered, and the bearded seal and harp seal are near-threatened. — Nell Lewis, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 During the Covid pandemic, caretakers used robotic companions like Paro, a small robot meant to look like a baby harp seal, to help ease loneliness in older adults. — Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for harp seal

Word History

Etymology

from the shape of its markings

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of harp seal was in 1766

Rhymes for harp seal

See All Rhymes for harp seal

Browse Nearby Words

harpoon oar
harp seal
harp shell
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harp seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harp%20seal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on harp seal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about harp seal

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All