giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe jə-ˈraf 

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

jə-ˈra-fish 

adjective

Illustration of giraffe

• giraffe 1

Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

See options Want to help name the Sacramento Zoo’s baby giraffe? —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Hunt paints bright, colorful images of animals, including giraffes and flamingos. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025

The brightly colored animal creations depict everything from sloths and raccoons to birds, elephants and giraffes. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025

Its location is secret February 20, 2025 4:06 PM Read Next National Driver spots seemingly ‘deceased giraffe’ in Michigan traffic. —Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian giraffa, from Arabic zirāfa

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing giraffe

• reticulated giraffe

Rhymes for giraffe

• behalf
• carafe
• digraph
• distaff
• falstaff
• subgraph
• autograph
• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph

Kids Definition

giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe ˈjə-ˈraf 

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