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

capitalized : camelopardalis

giraffish

jə-ˈra-fish 

adjective

Illustration of giraffe

• giraffe 1

Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The giraffe's only living relative, okapi are native to the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025

People dressed in all kinds of costumes, including as unicorns, the Pokémon Eevee and a giraffe. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025

Even giraffes can hide in the shadows The sun began to set behind the stands along the third-base line of Dodger Stadium in the second inning Thursday. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

Walter Salles couldn’t understand how a raw piece of wood could become a giraffe or an elephant. —Alejandro González Iñárritu, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025

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