mamba

noun

mam·​ba ˈmäm-bə  ˈmam- 

: any of several chiefly arboreal venomous green or black elapid snakes (genus Dendroaspis) of sub-Saharan Africa

Examples of mamba in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Black mambas are often seen cruising the savanna with their head and neck held high, using their keen eyesight to scan for danger or track prey – typically small mammals such as hyraxes, bush babies, and rodents. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025

The black mamba and the eastern brown snake are also very fast, reaching speeds of 12 mph. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

In mouse trials, the antidote was found to be protective against venom from the black mamba, king cobra, coral snakes and tiger snakes, among others. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 May 2025

New research published in Cell discusses the first use of human antibodies to help create an antivenom that can be effective against multiple species of venomous snakes, including black mamba, king cobra, and tiger snakes. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Zulu imamba

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mamba

• bomba
• samba

Kids Definition

mamba

noun

mam·​ba ˈmäm-bə  ˈmam- 

: any of several African poisonous snakes related to the cobras but lacking a hood

Medical Definition

mamba

noun

mam·​ba ˈmäm-bə  ˈmam- 

: any of several venomous elapid snakes (genus Dendroaspis) of sub-Saharan Africa that are related to the cobras but lack a dilatable hood

especially : a southern African snake (D. angusticeps) that has a light or olive-green phase and a black phase, that attains in the latter phase a length of 12 feet (3.66 meters), and that is noted for the quickness with which it inflicts its often fatal bite