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

Giraffe : camelopardalis

giraffish

jə-ˈra-fish 

adjective

Illustration of giraffe

• giraffe 1

Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Don't get too friendly, though–some of the more naughty giraffes like to give the occasional head butt. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Participants in the card drive can choose from three ready-to-color animal designs, including a giraffe, a peacock, or an elephant, followed by a personal message of encouragement. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

The 11,700-square-foot house is part of Thanda Safari, a roughly 40,000-acre private game reserve where elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo roam and giraffes and zebras can sometimes be spotted right from the home. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026

Spread across 400 acres in the hills of Santa Rosa, Safari West is home to more than 900 animals, including giraffes, zebras, rhinos, flamingos, cape buffalo and impalas. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

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
• distaff
• falstaff
• autograph
• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph
• hodograph
• holograph

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