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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
Examples of humpback whale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most male humpback whales in a Pacific Ocean population do not have offspring — and bad singing might be to blame, new research reveals.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025
According to tourist whale-watching websites in New York, humpback whales are typically visible between May and December.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
In Estonia, the creatures thought responsible for the nighttime show were humpback whales.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2024
The worst year was 2023, with 37 humpback whale mortalities.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1726, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near humpback whale
Cite this Entry
“Humpback whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpback%20whale. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
humpback whale
noun
: a large baleen whale that is black above and white below and has very long flippers
More from Merriam-Webster on humpback whale
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about humpback whale
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