humpback whale

noun

: a large baleen whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that is black above and white below and has very long flippers and fleshy tubercles along the snout

Illustration of humpback whale

Illustration of humpback whale

Examples of humpback whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Small dusky dolphins swarm the boat, riding its bow wave, while Hector’s dolphins, albatrosses, and humpback whales make cameos. — Steve Madgwick, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026 Timmy, a humpback whale that was stranded several times in the Baltic Sea this year, captured worldwide interest during a controversial rescue effort. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 June 2026 Fast-forward to today, as Arabian humpback whales navigate between sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and Beston’s prescient quote takes on new resonance. — The Los Angeles Times, Mercury News, 18 June 2026 During migration season – which goes from December to March – humpback whales move through Banderas Bay, and witnessing them from the water feels almost surreal. — Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for humpback whale

Word History

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of humpback whale was in 1726

Rhymes for humpback whale

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Browse Nearby Words

humpback sucker
humpback whale
hump day
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humpback whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpback%20whale. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

humpback whale

noun
: a large baleen whale that is black above and white below and has very long flippers

More from Merriam-Webster on humpback whale

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about humpback whale

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