What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whales
Example
We went on a whale watching tour and saw several humpback whales. [whales: noun]
Example
The blue whale is the largest animal on earth. [whale: noun]
cetacean
Example
Cetaceans are known for their intelligence and social behavior. [cetaceans: noun]
Example
The bottlenose dolphin is a well-known cetacean species. [cetacean: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Whales is a more commonly used term than cetacean in everyday language and popular culture.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between whales and cetacean?
Cetacean is a more formal term than whales and is commonly used in scientific and academic contexts to describe marine biology and ecology.
