orca
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of orca
First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin, former taxonomic name, from Latin, a kind of whale, perhaps a grampus, from Greek óryga (accusative of óryx ), a kind of large fish, perhaps a narwhal. The g became c under the influence of Latin orca, a kind of large earthenware vessel with a narrow neck; orc
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even so, the authors stress that much more research is required to understand the diversity of circoviruses in cetaceans, how they are transmitted, and what effects they may have on whale and orca health.
From Science Daily • Jan. 6, 2026
The project's team also contains people who were involved in a whale sanctuary that was created to house Keiko – the orca who starred in the 1993 movie Free Willy.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2025
The appearance of a new orca calf in Washington’s Puget Sound last month was cause for celebration.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2025
I’ve written about sailors trading tips online over orca attacks and how savvy TikTok marketing revived a restaurant’s business.
From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2024
As long as you weren’t an orca, they would be your friend instantly.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
