Illustration of camel
- 1 dromedary
- 2 Bactrian camel
plural camels
1
: any of three large ruminant (see ruminant entry 1) mammals (genus Camelus) that have one or two large humps of stored fat on the back and are used as draft and saddle animals in desert regions especially of Africa and Asia:
a
: the one-humped camel (C. dromedarius) extant only as a domestic or feral animal : dromedary
b
: the 2-humped camels (C. bactrianus and C. ferus) of desert and steppe regions of northwestern China and southwestern Mongolia : bactrian camel
2
: a watertight structure used especially to lift submerged ships
3
: a light yellowish brown
4
a
: camel hair sense 2
"… So we're going to look for more luxury fabrics—cashmere, camel, alpaca and … lambswools."—
Paul Diamond
—usually used before another nounPaul Diamonda genuine camel coat
b
: leather made from the skin of a camel
They all have four-digit price tags and are crafted from luxe leathers like buffalo, calfskin and camel.—Georgina Safe
—usually used before another nounGeorgina Safecamel leather
Examples of camel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The camel was escorted down by a person in costume and kicked out its hind leg, hitting a woman sitting in an aisle seat, the video shows.
—Joe Kottke, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
While the glossy black is hard to beat, other favorite hues include a deep burgundy, camel suede, and chocolate brown.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2025
If the camel color isn’t to your liking, the boots also come in black and dark brown.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025
Available in three stunning neutral shades—ivory, navy, and camel—this $50 cozy sweater deserves a spot on your holiday wishlist.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for camel
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.
Joe Kottke, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
While the glossy black is hard to beat, other favorite hues include a deep burgundy, camel suede, and chocolate brown.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2025
If the camel color isn’t to your liking, the boots also come in black and dark brown.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025
Available in three stunning neutral shades—ivory, navy, and camel—this $50 cozy sweater deserves a spot on your holiday wishlist.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for camel
Cite this Entry
“Camel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camel. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share