humpback

noun

hump·​back ˈhəmp-ˌbak How to pronounce humpback (audio)
 for sense 1 also  -ˈbak
plural humpbacks
1
: a humped or crooked back
also : kyphosis
2
dated, offensive : a person with a humpback
3
4

Examples of humpback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Samaná is a sleepy and traditional town on the peninsula, which drops off into the sparkling waters of Samaná Bay — home to hundreds of humpback whales during mating season from January to March. Georgina Lawton, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2023 The stretch of river from the dam to Lees Ferry is a focus in the government’s efforts to protect humpback chubs, which only last year were downlisted on the endangered species list. Brandon Loomis, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2022 One of the most important aspects of the string of whale deaths to note is that humpback whales, which have made up a majority of the recent events, have been undergoing an unusual mortality event since 2016. Li Cohen, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2023 On North Carolina’s Outer Banks, two humpback whales were found dead in December. Wayne Parry, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2023 Bigg’s killer whales and humpback whales were particularly plentiful in the waters of British Columbia and Washington in 2022. oregonlive, 16 Jan. 2023 The dead whale reported Friday was found just miles from where two other humpback whales had washed up in Atlantic City in recent weeks, officials said. Breanne Deppisch, Washington Examiner, 13 Jan. 2023 Earlier this week, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said that preliminary results of a necropsy indicate that the most recent whale that washed ashore, a 32-foot humpback, had been hit by a ship. Jeremy Beaman, Washington Examiner, 18 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'humpback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of humpback was in 1697

Dictionary Entries Near humpback

Cite this Entry

“Humpback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humpback. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

humpback

noun
hump·​back ˈhəmp-ˌbak How to pronounce humpback (audio)
1
: a humped or crooked back
2
3
humpbacked
-ˈbakt
adjective

Medical Definition

humpback

noun
hump·​back
-ˌbak, for 1 also -ˈbak
: a humped or crooked back
also : kyphosis
humpbacked adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on humpback

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