1
a
: a place where animals are kept and trained especially for exhibition
b
: a collection of wild or foreign animals kept especially for exhibition
2
: a varied mixture
a menagerie of comedians—
TV Guide
TV GuideA menagerie of grotesque statues stood in the garden.
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Back in the days of Middle French, ménagerie meant "the management of a household or farm" or "a place where animals are tended." When English speakers adopted menagerie in the 1600s, they applied it specifically to places where wild and often also foreign animals were kept and trained for exhibition, as well as to the animals so kept. This second meaning was eventually generalized to refer to any varied mixture, especially one that includes things that are strange or foreign to one's experience.
Examples of menagerie in a Sentence
a menagerie of rare creatures
the living room is eclectically furnished with a menagerie of garage-sale finds
Recent Examples on the Web
Some may say that releasing such a menagerie can cause each individual fragrance to be lost in the shuffle, but an increasing number of houses seem to realize the potential within such a strategy—one in which consumers are given the keys to explore different facets of the brand’s identity.
—Austa Somvichian-Clausen, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2024
The game also features a compelling menagerie of humorous side characters to meet on the journey, like a royal monkey who breaks it down on the dance floor, and an adorable talking cat who demands cuddles – or else.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
The film’s premise relied on unprecedented levels of interaction between humans and a menagerie of big cats and other wild animals.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Frantic, Heidi and her partner had begun rounding up their menagerie of 15 rescue cats, sweeping the house with flashlights since the power had gone out.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
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Austa Somvichian-Clausen, Robb Report, 22 Sep. 2024
The game also features a compelling menagerie of humorous side characters to meet on the journey, like a royal monkey who breaks it down on the dance floor, and an adorable talking cat who demands cuddles – or else.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
The film’s premise relied on unprecedented levels of interaction between humans and a menagerie of big cats and other wild animals.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Frantic, Heidi and her partner had begun rounding up their menagerie of 15 rescue cats, sweeping the house with flashlights since the power had gone out.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menagerie
Cite this Entry
“Menagerie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menagerie. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
menagerie
noun
me·nag·er·ie
mə-ˈnaj-(ə-)rē 
also -ˈnazh-
1
: a place where animals are kept and trained especially for exhibition
2
: a collection of wild or foreign animals kept especially for exhibition
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