hippopotamus

noun

hip·​po·​pot·​a·​mus ˌhi-pə-ˈpä-tə-məs How to pronounce hippopotamus (audio)
plural hippopotamuses or hippopotami ˌhi-pə-ˈpä-tə-ˌmī How to pronounce hippopotamus (audio)
-(ˌ)mē
: any of a family (Hippopotamidae) of very large, four-toed, chiefly aquatic, herbivorous artiodactyl mammals having a very large head and mouth, nearly hairless thick grayish skin, long lower canine teeth, and relatively short legs, and including two living species:
a
: one (Hippopotamus amphibius) of sub-Saharan Africa that has webbing between the toes, spends most of the day in or near water, and typically weighs between 3 to 4 tons (2700 to 3600 kilograms)

Illustration of hippopotamus

Illustration of hippopotamus

Examples of hippopotamus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a small zoo, a new hippopotamus called Zafari unites neighbors from clashing classes. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025 In addition to over 10,000 stone tools, there were abundant fish, crocodile, and hippopotamus remains, as well as those of elephants and rhinoceroses. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025 The 27 fragments of limb bones, most from hippopotamuses and elephants, show evidence of having been sharpened and shaped, likely with the aid of stone pieces. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025 Mahali, a Nile hippopotamus, will leave the only home he’s ever known and relocate to a three-acre habitat at a Texas wildlife preserve, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance officials announced in a news release Thursday. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hippopotamus

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek hippopotamos, alteration of hippos potamios, literally, riverine horse

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hippopotamus was in 1542

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hippopotamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hippopotamus. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

hippopotamus

noun
hip·​po·​pot·​a·​mus ˌhip-ə-ˈpät-ə-məs How to pronounce hippopotamus (audio)
plural hippopotamuses or hippopotami -ˌmī How to pronounce hippopotamus (audio)
-(ˌ)mē
: a very large mammal of Africa south of the Sahara Desert that spends most of its time in the water, feeds on plants, has an extremely large head and mouth, very thick hairless grayish skin, and short legs with four toes on each foot
also : a smaller related mammal of western Africa
Etymology

from Latin hippopotamus "hippopotamus," from Greek hippopotamos (same meaning), literally, "river horse," from hippos "horse" and potamos "river"

Word Origin
The ancient Greeks gave the name hippopotamos to a big, barrel-shaped animal they saw in Africa. English, using the Latin spelling hippopotamus, has kept this name. It is a combination of the Greek words hippos, meaning "horse" and potamos, meaning "river." In fact, the hippopotamus is more closely related to the hog than to the horse. However, the "river" in the name is certainly right for an animal that always lives near water and spends most of its time in it. The eyes, ears, and nostrils of a hippopotamus are placed so that the animal can see, hear, and breathe even if most of its head is underwater.

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