pinniped

American  

[pin-uh-ped] / ˈpɪn əˌpɛd /

adjective

1. belonging to the Pinnipedia, a suborder of carnivores with limbs adapted to an aquatic life, including the seals and walruses.

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noun

1. a pinniped animal.

pinniped British  

/ ˌpɪnɪˈpiːdɪən, ˈpɪnɪˌpɛd /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Pinnipedia, an order of aquatic placental mammals having a streamlined body and limbs specialized as flippers: includes seals, sea lions, and the walrus

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noun

1. any pinniped animal

pinniped Scientific  

/ pĭn′ə-pĕd′ /

1. Any of various carnivorous, aquatic mammals of the group Pinnipedia, which some believe is a suborder of the Carnivora but others consider a separate mammalian order. Pinnipeds have long, smooth bodies and finlike flippers for swimming. Seals and walruses are pinnipeds.

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Other Word Forms

• pinnipedian adjective

Etymology

Origin of pinniped

From the New Latin word Pinnipedia, dating back to 1835–45. See pinna, -i-, -ped, -ia

Example Sentences

The puzzled pinniped was spotted in the Lancashire village of Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, after apparently swimming upstream along the River Darwen.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2023

The governor’s budget proposal includes the request for the ongoing pinniped work to continue.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 15, 2023

Blonde Bomber's story is just one among many in which a pinniped has nearly lost its life to plastic pollution, but it was clear that Blonde Bomber struck a special chord.

From Salon • Jul. 2, 2022

In addition to the higher-than-normal pinniped rescues, researchers are seeing an increase in the number of stranded dolphins.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2019

According to a study published last year, sea lions and their pinniped relatives now consume up to 625 metric tons of Chinook salmon in Puget Sound each year.

From Washington Post • Dec. 12, 2018