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 the first photo, the actress could be seen holding her toddler son on her hip and standing by her husband as the trio got up close and personal with a giraffe. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026

Elephants are commonly seen, along with buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas and a growing number of predators, including lions and leopards. —Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

The Detroit Zoo welcomed a new giraffe, Nguvu, to the herd, officials announced on Wednesday. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 14 May 2026

The new enclosure will allow the giraffes to roam inside and outside, eliminating what used to be a long walk from the zoo’s African Savanna to their housing barn. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 May 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
• distaff
• falstaff
• autograph
• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph
• hodograph
• holograph

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