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

This means that, while not endangered as a whole, several giraffe subspecies are at risk. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025

In 2014, the Copenhagen Zoo in the Danish capital euthanized a healthy young giraffe named Marius to avoid inbreeding, despite a petition trying to stop the move. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025

Another image featured Badu in a Cynthia Rowley dress, emblazoned with yellow flower details, alongside a giraffe. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Aug. 2025

This 50,000-acre private reserve offers a range of activities, from bloodhound tracking and giraffe encounters to kayaking alongside elephants organized by Ekorian’s Mugie Camp. —Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 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