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.
The Rockaway Times reported the last whale to wash up on the Rockaways was in May 2025, when the decomposing humpback whale showed up on the beach. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026 Cruise passengers may also see fin or humpback whales plus Common dolphins. Holly Andres, Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026 Cabo Nature offers whale-watching excursions aboard a 26-foot boat with an all-woman crew, where sightings of humpback whales pair with views of El Arco. Latifah Al Hazza, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026 The humpback whale is possibly the most accomplished vocalist in the ocean, and the songs come from a giant animal that can weigh more than 55,000 pounds. Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humpback whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpback%20whale. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster