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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Visit between mid-January and late March and your family might be treated to a humpback whale sighting during migration season. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026 And although humpback whales are due for a thorough census, even outdated estimates suggest there are at least 20 to 25 times the number of these animals in the region today. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026 Visitors can take a small-boat tour of the surrounding waters, which are filled with humpback whales, or a driving tour through boreal forest. Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026 Cruise passengers may also see fin or humpback whales plus Common dolphins. Holly Andres, Daily News, 6 Feb. 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 28 Feb. 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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