camel

noun

cam·​el ˈka-məl 

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 noun

a 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 noun

camel leather

Illustration of camel

• 1 dromedary
• 2 Bactrian camel

Examples of camel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The wildlife park in Nicholas County, Kentucky is home to more than 35 species, according to its website, including a camel, emu and red kangaroo. —Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025

Part of the problem is the attempt to represent Canada, Mexico and the United States equally, leading to the bold red, green and blue, which brings to mind that old saying about a camel being a horse designed by committee. —Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Another depicts a man riding a camel in Egypt with a sticker on the camel's butt. —Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025

The engravings include 90 camels, 17 ibex (a wild mountain goat), 15 equids (an animal from the horse family), 7 gazelles and 1 aurochs (a now-extinct cow), according to the study. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French, from Latin camelus, from Greek kamēlos, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew gāmāl camel

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing camel

• Bactrian camel
• camel hair
• camel's hair
• the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back

Rhymes for camel

• hamel
• hamil
• mammal
• trammel
• enamel
• glutamyl

Kids Definition

camel

noun

cam·​el ˈkam-əl 

: either of two large cud-chewing mammals used for carrying burdens and for riding in desert regions especially of Africa and Asia:

a

: dromedary

b

: a two-humped camel of central Asia

called also Bactrian camel