Skip to main content
orca

orca

25 3.4
A large black and white whale with sharp teeth that hunts other animals
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrkə/
translation icon : orca
  • You wrote, "There is really no reason to believe that an orca would not eat a human."
  • orca whale
  • killer orca

This is and and she is now it's a female orca.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • While watching from the boat, we were thrilled to see an orca breach the surface of the water.

  • Iceberg swims alongside another large orca, thought to be the pod's matriarch.

    Blog text (11)
  • There is no reason to believe that an orca would not eat a dog.

    Blog text (3)
  • The thread about the young orca rescued is getting a lot of views.

    Blog text (7)
  • And then seeing orcas in California is pretty rare according to these folks who go out to this area.

  • The orca, or killer whale,is the king of the ocean.

  • They're out there one day and they encounter an orca eating a seal.

  • Last week, in the small town of La Pedrera, Uruguay, a dead orca washed onto the beach.

    Blog text (17)
  • Many leucistic animals have been found, including penguins, orcas, alligators, snakes, birds, axolotls, and lions.

    Blog text (7)
  • The documentary highlighted how the orca works together with its pod to hunt for fish.

Synonyms

whale
vsorca
809 1.0

A very large sea animal with a blowhole for breathing

is the specific predatory toothed member rather than the general mammal
killer
vsorca
38 2.2

A large black-and-white whale that hunts other animals

is the neutral, standard name rather than the short informal label
killer whale
vsorca
20 3.2

A large black and white whale with teeth that hunts other sea animals

is used mainly for animals found mostly in cold seas
cetacean
vsorca
  • Specialized
3 7.9

A large animal that lives in the sea, like a whale or dolphin

is one species within that broad animal order rather than the whole group
toothed whale
vsorca
1 5.0

A whale that has teeth and eats fish or squid, like dolphins and porpoises

is one species within that toothed suborder rather than the entire group
Orcinus orca
vsorca
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A large black-and-white whale with teeth and a tall fin that hunts in groups

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific name
devilfish
vsorca
  • Archaic
1 8.7

A medium-sized black and grey whale that hunts in groups

refers to the typical large black-and-white form rather than a greyish type
sea wolf
vsorca
6.2

A large black-and-white whale that hunts other sea animals like seals and fish

is the standard biological name rather than a regional or poetic label
grampus
vsorca
  • Specialized
9.9

A large whale or dolphin like an orca that hunts in cold seas

is one specific example within that broader group rather than the whole set

Compounds

Orcinus orca
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A large black-and-white whale with teeth and a tall fin that hunts in groups

How Big

blue whale
211 1.4
sperm whale
4 3.7
orca
25 3.4
dolphin
268 1.0

Surface Forms

orca singular
orcas plural

Etymology

Orca comes from the Latin word orca, which meant a large sea animal or 'sea monster' and later 'whale'. So, calling the black-and-white killer whale an orca connects to that old idea of a big, powerful sea animal.