reindeer

noun

rein·​deer ˈrān-ˌdir 

: caribou

—used especially for one of the Old World

Examples of reindeer in a Sentence

a large herd of reindeer

Recent Examples on the Web

Feed Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026

And once again got into the Christmas spirit with reindeer sunglasses and holiday sweaters when the holiday season rolled around. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026

Food-wise, De Vries’s tips include the terroir-worship set menus at Gaptrast, the more relaxed female-run Lola Bistro and Moon, celebrating the native cooking of French brothers Jules and Nicola Selukov—with the reindeer hotdog at the Tekroneren stand also worthy of the persistent queues. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Earlier finds have revealed bones of mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, reindeer and wild horse, alongside stone tools and evidence of human occupation across multiple periods. —CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reindere, from Old Norse hreinn reindeer + Middle English deer animal, deer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing reindeer

• reindeer moss

Rhymes for reindeer

• headgear
• midyear
• nazir
• tuyere
• acyclovir
• asthenosphere
• ganciclovir
• magnetosphere
• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere

Kids Definition

reindeer

noun

rein·​deer ˈrān-ˌdi(ə)r 

plural reindeer also reindeers

: caribou

—used especially for one of the Old World