dolphin
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for dolphin, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A highly intelligent, social marine mammal with a beak-like snout, known for its playfulness.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use dolphin
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Greek delphís, related to a word for "womb" — from Middle English delphyn via Latin delphinus.
Full origin of dolphin →Frequently asked questions
What does “dolphin” mean?
The word “dolphin” means a highly intelligent, social marine mammal with a beak-like snout, known for its playfulness. In plain terms, usually refers to the sea mammal famous for its intelligence, though it can also mean the mahi-mahi fish.
How do you pronounce “dolphin”?
“Dolphin” is pronounced DOLF-ihn (/ˈdɑlf.ɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “dolphin” in a sentence?
Here is “dolphin” used in a sentence: “A pod of dolphins followed the boat for several miles.”
What part of speech is “dolphin”?
“Dolphin” is a noun.
Where does the word “dolphin” come from?
The word “dolphin” comes from Latin. From Greek delphís, related to a word for "womb" — from Middle English delphyn via Latin delphinus.
Is “dolphin” a common word?
“Dolphin” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “dolphin” have?
“Dolphin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a highly intelligent, social marine mammal with a beak-like snout, known for its playfulness.
What is the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise?
Dolphins generally have a longer, beak-like snout and a curved dorsal fin, while porpoises have a blunter face and a more triangular dorsal fin. Both are marine mammals, but they belong to different families within the cetacean group.
Is a dolphin fish the same as a dolphin mammal?
No. The dolphin fish, also called mahi-mahi or dorado, is a brightly coloured game fish unrelated to the intelligent marine mammal commonly called a dolphin; they share a name but are entirely different animals.
Why is mahi-mahi sometimes called "dolphin" on menus?
Some restaurants avoid calling the fish "dolphin" on menus to prevent confusion with the marine mammal, using "mahi-mahi" instead even though "dolphin fish" is a traditional name for the same game fish.