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

Uber’s safari service allows app users in Nairobi to book a wheelbase Land Cruiser that seats up to seven passengers for a three-hour game drive in Nairobi National Park, wilderness just three miles from the capital city that is home to animals including lions, giraffes, and cheetahs. —Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Other voice actors in the film include Craig Robinson as Elliot’s toy giraffe Baloney Tony, as well as Omid Djalili, Gia Carides, SungWon Cho, and Zachary Noah Piser. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2025

In an exclusive clip from the show below, Blippi and Meekah join a zookeeper and get to visit the habitats of giraffes and other animals. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 19 Sep. 2025

Lean back and enjoy the view under umbrellas printed with elephants, giraffes, horses and tropical birds. —Katharina Kotrba, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 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