impala

noun

im·​pa·​la im-ˈpa-lə  -ˈpä- 

plural impalas or impala

: a large brownish antelope (Aepyceros melampus) of southeastern Africa that in the male has slender curved horns with ridges

Illustration of impala

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A swift-running, graceful antelope, the impala is found in large herds, usually near water, on the savannas and open woodlands of central and southern Africa. Impalas are noted for their jumping ability: when alarmed, they bound off in leaps up to 30 ft (9m) long and 10 ft (3m) high. Lightly built, the impala stands 30-40 in (75-100 cm) high at the shoulder. It has a golden to reddish brown coat, white underparts, a vertical black stripe on each thigh, and a black tuft behind each hind foot. The male has long, lyre-shaped horns.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Ten-year-old photographer Leon Petrinos, on his first safari through the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, caught the gaze of a cheetah who had just finished eating an impala. —Discover Magazine, 28 Jan. 2015

Wild dogs are beautiful in a brutal, be-glad-you’re-not-an-impala sort of way. —New York Times, 20 June 2022

Packs can easily take down an impala or a wildebeest. —Saima Sidik, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Aug. 2021

But the feline predators still have to account for the speed of their prey—in this case an impala, which can zigzag at upwards of 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour. —Popular Science, 13 May 2020

But the feline predators still have to account for the speed of their prey—in this case an impala (Aepyceros melampus), which can zigzag at upwards of 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 11 May 2020

The mostly treeless terrain of the African savanna gives antelopes, impalas, and other ungulates ample time to spot approaching predators, and even a slight head start can be the difference between life and death. —Popular Science, 13 May 2020

The mostly treeless terrain of the African savanna gives antelopes, impalas, and other ungulates ample time to spot approaching predators, and even a slight head start can be the difference between life and death. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 11 May 2020

This leopard is about to enjoy a meal of impala while a hyena waits patiently—or not—to claim the leftovers. —Ralph P. Stuart, Outdoor Life, 6 Mar. 2020

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Word History

Etymology

Zulu

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

impala

noun

im·​pa·​la im-ˈpal-ə  -ˈpäl- 

: a large brownish African antelope that in the male has slender curving horns

Etymology

from the name in Zulu, an African language