black whale: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (technical/historical/figurative)Technical (zoology), Historical/Literary, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “black whale” mean?
A general term for a whale that is predominantly black or very dark in colour, most famously the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A general term for a whale that is predominantly black or very dark in colour, most famously the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).
Can refer to the sperm whale specifically, especially in historical and whaling contexts (e.g., 'Moby-Dick'). Figuratively, it can denote a rare, prized, or elusive goal, akin to a 'white whale'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in reference, but the literary/conceptual allusion is stronger in American English due to the cultural weight of 'Moby-Dick'.
Connotations
Both varieties carry historical/literary weight. In contemporary use, it may sound slightly archaic or poetic.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, mostly confined to specific historical or literary discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “black whale” in a Sentence
hunt for a/the black whalerefer to X as a black whalethe black whale of [figurative goal]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black whale” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old logs show they once **black-whaled** off the Azores. (archaic/coinage)
American English
- He's been **black-whaling** for that promotion for years. (figurative coinage)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The **black-whale** industry collapsed with the advent of petroleum.
American English
- He has a **black-whale** obsession with finding the original manuscript.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical for a major, challenging target account or deal.
Academic
Used in marine biology history, literature studies, and environmental history.
Everyday
Very rare. Would likely be understood only in a literary or explicit comparative context (e.g., 'That classic car is his black whale').
Technical
Archaic term in cetology; modern taxonomy uses 'sperm whale'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black whale”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black whale”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black whale”
- Using 'black whale' for any dark-coloured whale (e.g., pilot whale). Confusing it with the more common idiom 'white whale', which has a similar figurative meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an archaic common name, primarily used in historical whaling contexts. 'Sperm whale' or 'cachalot' are the standard modern terms.
Literally, colour. Figuratively, both stem from 'Moby-Dick' and mean an elusive goal. 'White whale' is the far more common idiom. 'Black whale' is rarer and can imply a darker, more obsessive pursuit.
No. Use the precise binomial nomenclature (Physeter macrocephalus) or the common name 'sperm whale'. 'Black whale' is considered imprecise and archaic.
While some pilot whales are dark, they are not typically called 'black whales'. The term was historically reserved for the sperm whale.
A general term for a whale that is predominantly black or very dark in colour, most famously the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).
Black whale is usually technical (zoology), historical/literary, figurative in register.
Black whale: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblak ˈweɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈ(h)weɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[one's] black whale (a long-sought, often destructive goal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the **black** ink of the **sperm whale**, and the dark, obsessive quest in the novel 'Moby-Dick'.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ELUSIVE GOAL IS A WHALE (specifically a dark, formidable one).
Practice
Quiz
In a modern figurative sense, a 'black whale' most closely represents: