elephant in the room
noun phraseTo save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of elephant in the room
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about elephant in the room
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
11 "Problems" Inspired by Animal Names
11 "Problems" Inspired by Animal Names
Cans of worms, wild-goose chases, and more
Dictionary Entries near elephant in the room
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for elephant in the room
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Elephant in the room.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20in%20the%20room. Accessed 27 January 2020.
Comments on elephant in the room
What made you want to look up elephant in the room? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Intact Latin Quiz
- What did focus mean in Latin?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
- Intact Latin Quiz
What did each of these words mean to ancient Romans?
Take the quiz - The Eponym Quiz
Do you know these words that come from names?
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share elephant in the room
Time Traveler for elephant in the room
The first known use of elephant in the room was in 1985
See more words from the same year