sleeper shark

noun

Any shark of the family Somniosidae.

Origintranslingual Somniosus →
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Meanings

nounsleeper shark (plural sleeper sharks)

plural sleeper sharks · alternative sleepershark

  1. Any shark of the family Somniosidae.

Origin

  1. translingualSomniosus
  2. Englishsleeper shark

Calque of translingual Somniosus (literally “sleepy”). From sleeper + shark, referring to their slow, lethargic habits.

More words from translingual

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Cite this entry
APA

sleeper shark. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sleeper%20shark

MLA

“sleeper shark.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sleeper%20shark. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sleeper shark,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sleeper%20shark.

Source: sleeper shark on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.