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

The team said no permanent damage was done to the bone or tendon and medical experts are optimistic that the giraffe will fully recover. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025

In a makeshift graveyard outside the hospital, surrounded by the giraffes that Ellie met in one of the first season’s most emotional scenes, the group discuss their next moves after burying their dead. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025

The male giraffes at the zoo will still be visible in their outside habitats. —Shaela Foster, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2025

The Sacramento Zoo welcomed a new giraffe calf over the weekend. —Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 3 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