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

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

Watch on Deadline The screenplay chronicles the journey of a cat, capybara, lemur, bird and dog forced to embark on a perilous journey after their homes are devastated by a flood. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, others brought up some other good points, including the fact that owning a capybara isn't even legal everywhere. —Danielle Jennings, People.com, 25 Nov. 2024

Escaping a sudden, massive flood, a smart, mischievous black cat clambers aboard a boat shared by a dog, a capybara, and a lemur, as well as a long-legged secretary bird. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 2 Mar. 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