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

Examples of humpback whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the department, the delay is due to the number of humpback whale entanglements in 2026. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

When Zvyagintsev first visited Teriberka, in 2012, a local driver told him about humpback whales that, in early summer, are visible from shore. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Officials said the delay is required due to the number of humpback whale entanglements so far this year. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Make time for boat trips to spot humpback whales and grizzly bears with Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours during the summer months. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for humpback whale

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Kids Definition

humpback whale

noun

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