caribou

noun

car·​i·​bou ˈker-ə-ˌbü 

ˈka-rə-

plural caribou or caribous

: a large gregarious deer (Rangifer tarandus) of Holarctic taiga and tundra that usually has palmate antlers in both sexes

—used especially for one of the New World

called also reindeer

Illustration of caribou

Examples of caribou in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among his trophies are an Alaskan moose and caribou, wild boars, bears, whitetail deer, Catalina goats and more mule deer bucks than some hunters see in a lifetime. — Rich Larocco, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2026

Evenings were spent listening to presentations by staff, such as an introduction to Dene beadwork and regalia; spotting wildlife including grizzly bears, moose, and caribou, then watching the setting sun light up the slopes of mighty Denali. — Karen Gardiner, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026

Johnson defended the hunt as a conservation effort, explaining the role of predator management in protecting other wildlife, including moose and caribou. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Whales and caribou to hunt, nesting birds and wild salmon to catch, grapes and wheat to gather. — Matthew Hay Brown, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier caribo, borrowed from Micmac qalipu (phonetically ɣalibu, 17th-18th-century *ɣaribu), agentive derivative of qalipi- "shovel snow," going back to proto-Algonquian *maka·lipi-; so called from its habit of scraping aside snow with its front feet in search of food

First Known Use

circa 1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for caribou

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue
• donohue

Kids Definition

caribou

noun

car·​i·​bou ˈkar-ə-ˌbü 

plural caribou or caribous

: a large animal of the deer family that is found in cold northern regions

—used especially for one of the New World

called also reindeer

Etymology

from Canadian French caribou "caribou," from Micmac (Indigenous language of northeastern Canada) γalipu