buffalo

noun

buf·​fa·​lo ˈbə-fə-ˌlō 

plural buffalo or buffaloes also buffalos

often attributive

1

: any of several wild bovids: such as

a

: water buffalo

b

: cape buffalo

c(1)

: bison

especially : a large North American bison (Bison bison) that has a dense coat of dark brown fur with a shaggy mane on the head and lower neck, short hollow horns, and heavy forequarters with a large muscular hump over the shoulders and that formerly was abundant in North America but is now reduced to small populations of plains and prairies chiefly of the central U.S. and Canada : american bison compare european bison

(2)

: the flesh of the buffalo used as food

2

: any of several suckers (genus Ictiobus) found mostly in the Mississippi River valley

called also buffalo fish

Illustration of buffalo

• buffalo 1c(1)

Did you know?

What is the origin of buffalo?

Greeks traveled much of the ancient world, and Greek authors gave names to many unfamiliar animals. The African gazelle they called boubalos. Later, the Romans borrowed this Greek word and used it for gazelle and for wild ox. In Latin the form was first bubalus and later bufalus. This Latin word for wild ox passed into Italian as bufalo and into Spanish as búfalo. From these languages, the English then picked up the word, spelling it buffalo, and when English settlers arrived in America, they gave the name to the big, shaggy animal that is also called bison.

Examples of buffalo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the wildlife refuge north of Denver, surrounded by grazing buffalo herds and sprawling prairie terrain, the Outback appeared entirely at home. —Tim Jackson, Denver Post, 29 May 2026

The buffalo will remain on public display at Bangladesh's National Zoo in Dhaka, authorities said, joining more than 2,000 other animals of 191 species. —Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 28 May 2026

The 4-year-old buffalo drew a steady stream of visitors in recent weeks as social media attention grew. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 May 2026

This family-friendly pasta dish takes everyone's favorite and gives it the buffalo chicken treatment. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian bufalo & Spanish búfalo, from Late Latin bufalus, alteration of Latin bubalus, from Greek boubalos African gazelle

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buffalo

• African buffalo
• buffalo berry
• buffalo gourd
• buffalo grass
• buffalo plaid
• buffalo sauce
• buffalo soldier
• buffalo wing
• Cape buffalo
• water buffalo

Rhymes for buffalo

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

buffalo

noun

buf·​fa·​lo

ˈbəf-ə-ˌlō

plural buffalo or buffaloes

: any of several wild mammals related to oxen: as

a

: water buffalo

b

: cape buffalo

c

: a large shaggy-maned North American mammal with short horns and heavy forequarters with a large muscular hump

Etymology

from Italian bufalo and Spanish búfalo, both meaning "wild ox," from Latin bubalus, bufalus "wild ox, African gazelle," from Greek boubalos "African gazelle," probably from bous "ox, cow" — related to butter

Word Origin

The Greeks traveled over much of the ancient world, and Greek authors gave names to a number of unfamiliar animals. The African gazelle they called boubalos, apparently deriving part of the name from the Greek word bous, meaning "ox." Later the Romans borrowed this Greek word, which they used for "gazelle" and for "wild ox." In Latin the form was first bubalus and later bufalus. This Latin word for wild ox later passed into Italian as bufalo and into Spanish as búfalo. From these languages the English picked it up and gave it the spelling buffalo. When English settlers arrived in America, they gave the name buffalo to the big, shaggy animal that scientists prefer to call bison.