Illustration of giraffe
- giraffe 1
plural giraffes
1
or plural giraffe
: a large fleet African ruminant mammal (Giraffa camelopardalis) that is the tallest of living quadrupeds and has a very long neck and a short coat with dark blotches separated by pale lines
2
Giraffe
: camelopardalis
Examples of giraffe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Maryland Zoo's former giraffe exhibit.
—
Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Other large exotic animals most commonly seen in zoos, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, crocodiles, alligators, hippopotamuses, kangaroos and wallabies, are all banned, with some specific exceptions for zoos and research facilities.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
Within the lone star pattern of the quilt, gifted to her posthumously, were also Safari giraffes and zebras and elephants.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Mar. 2026
Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
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Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Other large exotic animals most commonly seen in zoos, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, crocodiles, alligators, hippopotamuses, kangaroos and wallabies, are all banned, with some specific exceptions for zoos and research facilities.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
Within the lone star pattern of the quilt, gifted to her posthumously, were also Safari giraffes and zebras and elephants.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Mar. 2026
Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for giraffe
Cite this Entry
“Giraffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giraffe. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
giraffe
noun
gi·raffe
ˈjə-ˈraf 
plural giraffes or giraffe
: a large swift cud-chewing spotted African mammal with a very long neck that is the tallest of living four-footed animals
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