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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Throughout the day, the group was able to see 39 humpback whales and 15 Risso’s dolphin, the group said. Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025 In the month of June, tens of thousands of humpback whales make the journey from the freezing waters around Antarctica to warmer waters. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025 Much like the flukes of humpback whales, each white shark is recognizable by its unique pigment patterns and dorsal fin shape. Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 When Ned soulfully mistakes the trash-barge horn for the singing of humpback whales, his accent couldn’t be less important. Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 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 8 Jul. 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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