zebra

noun

ze·​bra ˈzē-brə 

 Canadian and British also  ˈze-

plural zebras

1

plural also zebra : any of several swift African mammals (Equus grevyi, E. quagga, and E. zebra) related to the horse but distinctively and conspicuously patterned in stripes of black or dark brown and white or buff

2

[from the shirts patterned in black-and-white stripes worn by football referees] : referee sense 2

3

: zebra crossing

zebrine

ˈzē-ˌbrīn 

 Canadian and British also  ˈze-

adjective or noun

Examples of zebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Grease star wore black leather pants and a navy blue pinstripe blazer, while Larson opted for a brown zebra print jacket with wide-leg black trousers. —Charna Flam, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025

There’s a dancing zebra—or, rather, a guy dressed up as one. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025

From loud zebra prints to pops of red and yellow, Copenhagen Fashion Week is keeping its title as the most colorful, happiest fashion week of them all. —Noor-U-Nisa Khan, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2025

With some, like the zebra shark and whitespotted bamboo shark, it has been documented in multiple aquariums. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese zebra, zebro wild ass, perhaps from Latin equiferus, kind of wild horse, from equus horse + ferus wild — more at equine, fierce

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing zebra

• Grevy's zebra
• zebra crossing
• zebra finch
• zebra fish
• zebra mussel

Kids Definition

zebra

noun

ze·​bra ˈzēb-rə 

plural zebras also zebra

1

: any of several hoofed plant-eating African mammals that are related to the horse, have a hide striped in black or dark brown and white or buff, and are swift runners

2

: a small Indian fish with blue and silver stripes that is often kept in tropical aquariums