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

Illustration of gazelle

Illustration of gazelle

Examples of gazelle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Ant nests concentrate nutrients that enhance plant growth, thereby creating good grazing habitat for species like gazelles. — Chris Elphick, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026 The Uthman Quran, a seventh-century manuscript written in Kufic lettering on gazelle parchment, sits beneath a 213-foot dome in a space designed for maximum impact. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 According to the company, Skyring walked 75 miles over seven days through the Namib Desert to the Skeleton Coast in July 2000, encountering several oryx gazelles along the way. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 Kenya is home to the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffalo), and its Maasai Mara National Reserve hosts the annual Great Migration when millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles cross the ecosystem. — Ashley Lynch july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gazelle

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from Arabic ghazāl

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gazelle was in 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gazelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gazelle. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

plural gazelles also gazelle
: any of numerous small graceful swift antelopes of Africa and Asia

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