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

Forget the giraffes, gibbons and leopards. —CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

In the delightfully goofy comedy, tween girl Stevie and little brother Elliott are on a mission to find the Sandman and make a wish to keep their parents together, with the help of a sarcastic one-eyed plush giraffe named Baloney Tony. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the Masai giraffe used to be the most populous giraffe species in the world. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025

There are also shots of her Elle Woods–style closet, her hanging off Fiyero’s arm in front of a crowd, and some CGI critter friends such as ferrets and giraffes. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 10 Nov. 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