Grampus is an old name for certain dolphins and whales, especially the killer whale and a northern dolphin species. In modern English it is uncommonnot often used, seen, or heard in current language and mainly appears in natural-historythe study and description of animals, plants, and other living things or historicalrelating to the past or to events from earlier times contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈɡræmpəs/
Easy pronunciation: GRAM-pus (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Pronunciation for the noun meaning a killer whale or orca.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Grampus Meaning
A killer whale; orca.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A predatory black-and-white toothed whale with a large dorsal fin, found in cold seas.
Example: We spotted a grampus near the boat, its dorsal fin breaking the surface.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- killer whale — The clearest everyday equivalent for this sense.
- orca — Common name for the same animal.
- orcinus orca — Scientific name; accurate but not a natural everyday substitute.
- killer — Used as a shortened form, but less clear and less standard.
- sea wolf — Historical or literary name, but not the normal modern term.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Grampus
Meaning 2
A northern dolphin species.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A slaty-grey blunt-nosed dolphin common in northern seas.
Example: The guide pointed out a grampus griseus in the coastal waters.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- grampus griseus — The scientific name for this species.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Grampus Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- killer whale
- orca
A slaty-grey blunt-nosed dolphin common in northern seas
- grampus griseus
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use grampus to mean any large whale, but it refers to specific marine animals.
- It is not a common modern synonym for dolphin in general.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does grampus mean?
Grampus is an old term for certain toothed whales and dolphins, especially the killer whale.
What is the synonym of grampus?
For the main sense, the best synonyms are killer whale and orca. For the other sense, grampus griseus is the scientific name.
Is grampus still used in modern English?
Rarely. It is mostly found in older writing or specialized natural-history contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.