giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe jə-ˈraf How to pronounce giraffe (audio)
plural giraffes
1
or plural giraffe : a large fleet African ruminant mammal (Giraffa camelopardalis) that is the tallest of living quadrupeds and has a very long neck and a short coat with dark blotches separated by pale lines
2
capitalized : camelopardalis
giraffish adjective

Illustration of giraffe

Illustration of giraffe
  • giraffe 1

Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Think giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, and many more. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 19 Apr. 2025 Inside his studio, there lives a menagerie of creations: A silver giraffe stands watch over a half-dozen exuberantly colored birds hanging from the ceiling. Katherine Schulten, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Join us in welcoming the area's newest not-so-little bundle of joy: A currently unnamed baby girl giraffe clocking in at 58 kilograms and 6 feet. Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025 Among them were life-sized balloon replicas of horses, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses and cheetahs. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for giraffe

Word History

Etymology

Italian giraffa, from Arabic zirāfa

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of giraffe was circa 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Giraffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giraffe. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

giraffe

noun
gi·​raffe ˈjə-ˈraf How to pronounce giraffe (audio)
plural giraffes or giraffe
: a large swift cud-chewing spotted African mammal with a very long neck that is the tallest of living four-footed animals

More from Merriam-Webster on giraffe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!