porpoise

American  

[pawr-puhs] / ˈpɔr pəs /

noun

plural

porpoise,

plural

porpoises

1. any of several small, gregarious cetacean mammals of the genus Phocoena, usually blackish above and paler beneath, and having a blunt, rounded snout, especially the common porpoise, P. phocoena, of both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

2. any of several small cetacean mammals, as the common dolphin, Delphinus delphis.

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verb (used without object)

porpoised, porpoising

1. (of a speeding motorboat) to leap clear of the water after striking a wave.

2. (of a torpedo) to appear above the surface of the water.

3. to move forward with a rising and falling motion in the manner of a porpoise.

   The car has a tendency to porpoise when overloaded.

porpoise British  

/ ˈpɔːpəs /

noun

1. any of various small cetacean mammals of the genus Phocaena and related genera, having a blunt snout and many teeth: family Delphinidae (or Phocaenidae )

2. (not in technical use) any of various related cetaceans, esp the dolphin

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Other Word Forms

• porpoiselike adjective

Etymology

Origin of porpoise

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English porpoys, from Middle French porpois, from unattested Vulgar Latin porcopiscis “hog fish,” for Latin porcus marīnus “sea hog”

Example Sentences

In 2019, Canada passed a bill making it illegal to hold a whale, dolphin or porpoise captive.

From BBC • Oct. 11, 2025

Not only that, but over the last five years of records, porpoise numbers have gone up by nearly a quarter.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

While they would not have feasted on porpoise, a goose or pig would have been heartily consumed in a time when meat was too expensive for most people to eat regularly.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2024

Henry V of Shakespearean fame, hosted a feast that offered 40 different types of fish, including roast porpoise.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2024

"Did he really and truly turn into a porpoise?"

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl

Related Words

• mammal