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
Paired with a slouchy (albeit Chanel) camel jacket and matching bag, the outfit felt like a deliberate steer away from the period-drama looks of late, a reminder that, despite the bodice-ripping fan edits, Robbie is very much the modern woman.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Crucially, however, the six commitments aren’t so sweeping as to let any ideological camel peek its nose under the tent.
—Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
The stereotype of Saudis as Bedouins on camels is slowly being replaced by a more complex, layered identity.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
These were places rich with prey like bison, camels, horses and even young mammoths.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for camel
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Olivia Allen, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Crucially, however, the six commitments aren’t so sweeping as to let any ideological camel peek its nose under the tent.
—Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
The stereotype of Saudis as Bedouins on camels is slowly being replaced by a more complex, layered identity.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
These were places rich with prey like bison, camels, horses and even young mammoths.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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