What does dromedary mean?
The dromedary, known scientifically as Camelus dromedarius, is a large, long-legged mammal of the camel family distinguished by the single hump on its back. Native to the hot deserts of North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia, it is also called the Arabian camel to distinguish it from the two-humped Bactrian camel of Central Asia. The hump stores fat rather than water, providing energy reserves that allow the dromedary to survive long periods without food or drink — an adaptation that has made it invaluable for desert travel. Domesticated for thousands of years, it serves as a beast of burden and a source of milk and meat. In everyday English the broader word 'camel' is more common; 'dromedary' appears mainly in scientific, educational, and travel contexts, where precision about which species is meant matters.
nounA dromedary is a large long-necked domesticated mammal of the camel family, Camelus dromedarius, having a single hump on its back and native to the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. It is also called the Arabian camel.
- A one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) native to North Africa and the Middle East, widely used as a beast of burden in desert regions.
"The caravan of dromedaries moved slowly across the Sahara at dawn."
"Dromedaries have been essential to desert trade for thousands of years, carrying goods across the Sahara and Arabian Peninsula."
"At the wildlife park, the children were delighted to feed a young dromedary by hand."
The standard plural simply adds -ies to the singular, following the regular pattern for nouns ending in consonant + y.
"Wild herds of feral dromedaries roam the Australian outback today."
Despite its single hump, the dromedary stores fat — not water — in it, yet this remarkable animal can still go weeks without drinking.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dromedary
The word 'dromedary' derives from Latin 'dromedarius', meaning a swift-running camel, itself borrowed from Greek 'dromas' or 'dromados', meaning running or fleet-footed, from the Greek verb 'dramein', to run. The name reflects the animal's reputation for speed over desert distances, and related words from the same Greek root include 'hippodrome' and 'syndrome'. The term entered English in the late Middle Ages through Old French.
How dromedary is actually used
The word is formal or technical compared with the everyday term 'camel', which covers both one- and two-humped species. In ordinary usage, especially outside zoology, 'camel' is far more common; 'dromedary' appears chiefly in scientific, educational, and travel writing. The plural is regularly formed as 'dromedaries'.
Easily confused with dromedary
The Bactrian camel has two humps and is native to Central Asia, whereas the dromedary has only one hump.