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

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

Its Facebook page advertises access to goats, capybaras, a zebra and a camel, in addition to the kangaroo. —Doha Madani, NBC news, 11 May 2025

First, there was a Brazilian capybara influencer named Luciano Mochinski who had befriended a gaggle of capybaras living in the southern city of Curitiba. —Gary Shteyngart, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 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