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.
Spanish photographer Alvaro Herrero was named overall winner for his image showing the relationship between a humpback whale and her newborn calf, according to a statement from organizers on Friday. Jack Guy, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025 My afternoons were filled with kayaking with humpback whales, zipping around in a zodiac raft to spot leopard seals, snowshoeing around glistening bays, and watching penguins slide down the soft snow on their bellies. Hannah Freedman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2025 The offloading of their massive narcotics haul — which weighs about as much as a full grown humpback whale and is estimated to be worth $275 million — comes days after search efforts were ended for 23-year-old Seaman Bryan Lee, according to the Coast Guard. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025 Despite their size, interactions between humpback whales and humans are uncommon, and the species is not considered a threat to people. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humpback whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpback%20whale. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!