jackalope
noun
jack·a·lope
ˈja-kə-ˌlōp 
plural jackalopes
: a mythical animal that is reported chiefly from the western U.S. and is reputed to be the size of a small deer and to have the body of a jackrabbit and the horns of an antelope
Though stories mentioning horned creatures and animal hybrids exist in cultures and texts worldwide, in the U.S., the jackalope was "invented" by a creative hunter in Wyoming—paving the way for tourist attractions and cementing its place as a classic Americana relic.—
Kara Goldfarb
Kara GoldfarbDo you really have the willpower to pass up snapping a photo of yourself with the 80-foot brontosaurus and giant stuffed jackalope out front?—Bob Howells et al.
Bob Howells et al.With a load of this brand of alcohol warming his belly, if a cowboy says he can lick double his weight of jackalopes, there's no doubt that he can't.—Donald E. Getz
Donald E. GetzPapilloma viruses cause the hornlike growths in rabbits that probably gave rise to myths of "jackalopes" in the American West.—Matthew Herper
Matthew HerperExamples of jackalope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The jackalope is a fictional animal that originated in North America and is characterized by a rabbit with horns or antlers.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
The virus likely helped fuel the North American jackalope myth, which describes a rabbit with antlers or horns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025
Others have questioned if the rabbits with the growths could be jackalopes, a cryptid from American lore which is said to have the body of a jackrabbit and the horns of an antelope, per The Smithsonian.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The legend of the jackalope began as a light-hearted hoax, taxidermists combining rabbit bodies with deer antlers to create this mythical beast.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 10 Oct. 2024
Those who know little about the jackalope will be happy that Michael Branch has come hopping along.
—Dave Shiflett, WSJ, 24 Feb. 2022
But the judge and Brun proceed along their questionable path, leaping to conclusions like happy jackalopes.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
The virus likely helped fuel the North American jackalope myth, which describes a rabbit with antlers or horns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025
Others have questioned if the rabbits with the growths could be jackalopes, a cryptid from American lore which is said to have the body of a jackrabbit and the horns of an antelope, per The Smithsonian.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The legend of the jackalope began as a light-hearted hoax, taxidermists combining rabbit bodies with deer antlers to create this mythical beast.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 10 Oct. 2024
Those who know little about the jackalope will be happy that Michael Branch has come hopping along.
—Dave Shiflett, WSJ, 24 Feb. 2022
But the judge and Brun proceed along their questionable path, leaping to conclusions like happy jackalopes.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Jackalope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackalope. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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