wildebeest

noun

wil·​de·​beest ˈwil-də-ˌbēst 

plural wildebeests also wildebeest

: either of two large African antelopes (Connochaetes gnou and C. taurinus) with a head like that of an ox, short mane, long tail, and horns in both sexes that curve downward and outward

called also gnu

Illustration of wildebeest

Examples of wildebeest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During a trip to this Southern African nation, visitors can marvel at fauna like the blue wildebeest, aardwolf and Angolan giraffe—and to sweeten the deal, Namibia is also home to its fair share of luxurious resorts. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

What happened to 1994’s Father of the Year before he was flung off a cliff into a pack of wildebeests? —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2024

Alas, preserving democracy is not a bipartisan issue How humans are hurting Africa’s wildebeests Don’t flush trees down the toilet. —Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2024

Watch on Disney+ The Lion King Remember the terrifying wildebeest stampede in the 1994 version of The Lion King? —Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans wildebees, from wilde wild + bees ox

First Known Use

circa 1824, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

wildebeest

noun

wil·​de·​beest ˈwil-də-ˌbēst 

plural wildebeest also wildebeest

: either of two large African antelopes with a head like that of an ox, a short mane, a long tail, and horns that curve downward and outward

called also gnu