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
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Every year, between January and March, Samaná becomes the world center for humpback whale watching, attracting thousands of tourists interested in this incredible natural phenomenon. Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026 Spot Humpback Whales From November through April, over 12,000 humpback whales migrate about 3,000 miles from Alaska to breed in the warm waters off Maui. Sharael Kolberg, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026 The young humpback whale that first captured the internet's attention after becoming stranded in shallow waters of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Germany, eventually launching an expensive and complex rescue effort, was found dead on Friday, May 15. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 26 May 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

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Cite this Entry

“Humpback whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpback%20whale. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

humpback whale

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

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