humpback whale

American

[huhmp-bak hweyl, weyl] / ˈhʌmpˌbæk ˌʰweɪl, ˌweɪl /

noun

a large baleen whale of the genus Megaptera having long narrow flippers, and noted for its habit of arching deeply as it dives: an endangered species.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

humpback whales

plural

Etymology

Origin of humpback whale

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The carcass of a dead humpback whale whose attempted rescue captivated many across Germany has been pulled ashore.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

Researchers first photographed it in 2003 at Brazil's Abrolhos Bank, the country's main humpback whale nursery off the coast of Bahia.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

Researchers said the work also leant further credence to a theory about humpback whale patterns known as the "Southern Ocean Exchange".

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Rescuers plan to use air cushions in the latest attempt to free a humpback whale that has been stranded off Germany's northern coast for weeks.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

It was at least ten times as long as a humpback whale.

From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023