great white shark

American  

noun

1. a large shark, Carcharodon carcharias, of tropical and temperate seas, known to occasionally attack swimmers.

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Etymology

Origin of great white shark

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Toasty ocean temperatures have been linked to a great white shark sighting in Newport Beach that prompted a temporary beach closure Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

"By shedding light on the biology and ecology of the great white shark, research can help replace unfounded myths with genuine understanding."

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

In Martha’s Vineyard: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” is uttered by Roy Scheider as Chief Brody in “Jaws” when he sees the great white shark for the first time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

“In contrast, the great white shark, with a stocky body that becomes even stockier as it grows, can be 'large' but cannot pass 23 feet to be 'gigantic' because of hydrodynamic constraints.”

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2025

I grabbed a yellow legal pad where Fred had recorded pages of notes on great white shark behavior, reproduction, and something called osmoregulation.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen