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 ride is one hour each way, and marine life sightings include humpback whales (seasonally) and dolphins. Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 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 As offshore waters warm, humpback whales are increasingly following that prey closer to shore, where California’s Dungeness crab fishery operates. ABC News, 20 May 2026 And those views are made even better when an emperor penguin or humpback whale makes an appearance. Jordi Lippe-McGraw 20, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humpback whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpback%20whale. Accessed 2 Jun. 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