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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Obama broke down the Pacific Ocean's humpback whales and their migration process and explained how walruses in the Arctic Ocean were coping with climate change, while also making sure to hit the Indian, Southern and Atlantic Oceans in the process. Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 Take a whale-watching tour to spot humpback whales, gray whales, otters, and sea lions. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025 Orcas, also known as killer whales, have been known to prey on humpback whales, according to LiveScience. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025 That’s when the humpback whale started lunge feeding vertically, a behavior rarely seen in the area, the group said. Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025 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 10 Sep. 2025.

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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