giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe jə-ˈraf 

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

giraffish

jə-ˈra-fish 

adjective

Illustration of giraffe

• giraffe 1

Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In these unedifying spectacles, the lion was just one of a host of large creatures, from wolves to giraffes, that were released into an amphitheater to be hunted down by specialist gladiators known as bestiarii. —Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026

Curry, who serves as a producer on the film, also voices one of Will’s teammates, a giraffe named Lenny. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026

It’s located just three miles south of downtown Dallas, and guests can see everything from a Galápagos tortoise to giraffes, elephants, and penguins. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026

Typically, giraffe calves are 100 to 150 pounds at birth, said Ellie McMullen, the zoo’s communications manager. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian giraffa, from Arabic zirāfa

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing giraffe

• reticulated giraffe

Rhymes for giraffe

• behalf
• carafe
• digraph
• distaff
• falstaff
• subgraph
• autograph
• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph

Kids 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