dolphin
Dolphin (noun) means a highly intelligent, social marine mammal with a beak-like snout, known for its playfulness. Example: “A pod of dolphins followed the boat for several miles.”
How to use dolphin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually refers to the sea mammal famous for its intelligence, though it can also mean the mahi-mahi fish.
The fish called "dolphin" or "dolphinfish" is not related to the marine mammal — menus often use "mahi-mahi" to avoid confusion.
Word forms
dolphins plural, dolphins plural, Dolphins plural, Dolphins plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A pod of _____ followed the boat for several miles.
Etymology
From Greek delphís, related to a word for "womb" — from Middle English delphyn via Latin delphinus.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.