capybara

noun

cap·​y·​bara ˌka-pi-ˈber-ə 

-ˈba-rə,

-ˈbär-ə 

: a tailless semiaquatic South and Central American rodent (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) often exceeding four feet (1.2 meters) in length

Illustration of capybara

Examples of capybara in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The girl is in the Brazilian capital, but the headset transports her to a fictitious Indigenous village in the Atlantic rainforest, where capybaras and jaguars dart across the landscape. —Constance Malleret, Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 2025

In most cases this wasn’t a problem, except for the capybara. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2025

Lions made paw prints, while capybaras were given a pile of snow to examine—and taste. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

The sanctuary also has two bobcats, six sloths, lemurs, capybaras, a caracal, a Geoffroy’s cat, birds of prey — and three kangaroos. —Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese capibara, capivara, alteration of capiiuara, from Tupi kapiʔiwara, from kapíʔi grass, brush + -wara eater

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for capybara

• arikara
• ishihara
• alara
• amara
• antara
• aymara
• bambara
• camara
• damara
• gandhara
• gemara
• gurdwara

Kids Definition

capybara

noun

cap·​y·​bara ˌkap-i-ˈbar-ə  -ˈbär- 

: a tailless South American rodent often exceeding four feet (1.2 meters) in length that is often found in or near water