humpback whale

noun

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Definition of humpback whale

: a large baleen whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that is black above and white below and has very long flippers, and fleshy tubercles along the snout

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Recent Examples of humpback whale from the Web

Out on the briny green, salmon and striped bass are jumping in the boat, and the humpback whales are just plain jumping.

— tom stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Chart-buster times: salmon to whales, bears to bighorns," 8 July 2018
In the past, several whale species, including the humpback whale, have been spotted in the Red Sea.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Huge Blue Whale Sighted in the Red Sea for the First Time," 2 June 2018
And bowheads' sounds are some of the most intricate of all the creatures in kingdom Animalia, including their much ballyhooed singing cousins, humpback whales.

— cleve r. wootson jr., chicagotribune.com, "Scientists discover a whale species' mating songs are as complex as jazz," 4 Apr. 2018
Sixteen gray and humpback whales have been reported stranded off Washington and Oregon since April 3, the largest number in nearly two decades.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Whale strandings off Washington-Oregon coast highest in nearly 2 decades," 2 July 2018
Glittering in the sun during the day, glowing with waves of color at night, this 40-foot-tall marvel depicts a mother humpback whale and her calf in a gravity-defying dive.

— harriot manley, SFChronicle.com, "Burning Man comes and goes, but the experience is year-round in Reno," 28 June 2018
Over the course of 20 years, Buyle has worked with a huge variety of marine life—everything from great white sharks to humpback whales.

— mara balagtas, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Greatest Things Freediver Fred Buyle Has Seen Underwater," 8 June 2018
The survey also revealed that some participants thought certain animals, like bald eagles and humpback whales, were on the list.

— National Geographic, "Is This Clothing, Food, or an Endangered Species? Take Our Quiz.," 18 May 2018
The American alligator, brown pelican, humpback whale, Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf, San Miguel Island fox and bald eagle are among them.

— darryl fears, Washington Post, "This bat is the first to make it off the endangered species list. Celebrate with a shot of tequila.," 21 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'humpback whale.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.