Illustration of camel
- 1 dromedary
- 2 Bactrian camel
plural camels
1
: any of three large ruminant (see ruminant entry 1) mammals (genus Camelus) that have one or two large humps of stored fat on the back and are used as draft and saddle animals in desert regions especially of Africa and Asia:
a
: the one-humped camel (C. dromedarius) extant only as a domestic or feral animal : dromedary
b
: the 2-humped camels (C. bactrianus and C. ferus) of desert and steppe regions of northwestern China and southwestern Mongolia : bactrian camel
2
: a watertight structure used especially to lift submerged ships
3
: a light yellowish brown
4
a
: camel hair sense 2
"… So we're going to look for more luxury fabrics—cashmere, camel, alpaca and … lambswools."—
Paul Diamond
—usually used before another nounPaul Diamonda genuine camel coat
b
: leather made from the skin of a camel
They all have four-digit price tags and are crafted from luxe leathers like buffalo, calfskin and camel.—Georgina Safe
—usually used before another nounGeorgina Safecamel leather
Examples of camel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Russian forces have deployed donkeys and camels in Ukraine amid resupply struggles to equip troops at the frontlines with necessary goods, according to reports.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
People love to talk about the straw that broke the camel’s back.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
Stunning images from the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest
Fighting fish, thirsty camels and hairy shrimp are all featured among the winning images of the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
Concord residents Jane and Jim Young’s recent cruise along the Iberian Peninsula included stops in Barcelona and Seville, Spain; Lisbon and Porto, Portugal; and Tangier, Morocco, where the adventures included a beachy camel ride.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2025
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David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
People love to talk about the straw that broke the camel’s back.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
Stunning images from the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest
Fighting fish, thirsty camels and hairy shrimp are all featured among the winning images of the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
Concord residents Jane and Jim Young’s recent cruise along the Iberian Peninsula included stops in Barcelona and Seville, Spain; Lisbon and Porto, Portugal; and Tangier, Morocco, where the adventures included a beachy camel ride.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for camel
Cite this Entry
“Camel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camel. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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