gazelle

noun

ga·​zelle gə-ˈzel 

plural gazelles also gazelle

: any of numerous small to medium graceful and swift African and Asian antelopes (Gazella and related genera)

Illustration of gazelle

Examples of gazelle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wemby and super-young players like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, who performed on Saturday night with the energy of a gazelle and the court vision of an eagle, are just too good to come up short for long. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

The other human beings his size have either been plodding trees who can barely get up the floor or rail-thin gazelles who can’t handle the G-forces their bodies generate at full speed. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 24 May 2026

The singer envisions his fellow clubgoers as the animal kingdom — lions targeting gazelles on the savanna, etc. — Glen Weldon, NPR, 14 May 2026

There are no elephants here—but don’t be surprised to find zebras or gazelles walking across the estate. — Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from Arabic ghazāl

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gazelle

• Grant's gazelle
• Thomson's gazelle

Rhymes for gazelle

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

gazelle

noun

ga·​zelle gə-ˈzel 

plural gazelles also gazelle

: any of numerous small graceful swift antelopes of Africa and Asia