capybara

noun

cap·​y·​bara ˌka-pi-ˈber-ə 

-ˈba-rə,

-ˈbär-ə 

: a tailless semiaquatic South and Central American rodent (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) often exceeding four feet (1.2 meters) in length

Illustration of capybara

Examples of capybara in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Escaping a sudden, massive flood, a smart, mischievous black cat clambers aboard a boat shared by a dog, a capybara, and a lemur, as well as a long-legged secretary bird. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025

Driving the news: Tupi was born Dec. 3, marking the first capybara birth at the zoo since 2000. —Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025

So these wealthy landowners and homeowners got really upset, and the capybara became a kind of working-class hero. —Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025

My daughter’s side offers an empowering number of human rights activists and baby capybaras on skateboards. —Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese capibara, capivara, alteration of capiiuara, from Tupi kapiʔiwara, from kapíʔi grass, brush + -wara eater

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for capybara

• arikara
• ishihara
• alara
• amara
• antara
• aymara
• bambara
• camara
• damara
• gandhara
• gemara
• gurdwara

Kids Definition

capybara

noun

cap·​y·​bara ˌkap-i-ˈbar-ə  -ˈbär- 

: a tailless South American rodent often exceeding four feet (1.2 meters) in length that is often found in or near water