humpback

American  

[huhmp-bak] / ˈhʌmpˌbæk /

noun

1. a back that is humped in a convex position.

2. kyphosis.

3. the humpback whale.

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humpback British  

/ ˈhʌmpˌbæk /

noun

1. another word for hunchback

2. Also called: humpback whale.  a large whalebone whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, closely related and similar to the rorquals but with a humped back and long flippers: family Balaenopteridae

3. a Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, the male of which has a humped back and hooked jaws

4. Also called: humpback bridge.  a road bridge having a sharp incline and decline and usually a narrow roadway

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Other Word Forms

• humpbacked adjective

Etymology

Origin of humpback

First recorded in 1690–1700; apparently back formation from humpbacked

Example Sentences

After spending more than a week trying to save a humpback whale stranded off Germany's northern coast, rescue officials have conceded their hopes have run out.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Rescuers are continuing to try and save a stranded humpback whale off Germany's north coast.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

About a dozen species of marine mammals are also found there, including humpback whales and whale sharks.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

The results suggest that male humpback whales likely need years to develop and perfect both their songs and their competitive strategies.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026

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

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