tapir

noun

ta·​pir ˈtā-pər 

 also  ˈtā-ˌpir,

 or  tə-ˈpir

plural tapirs also tapir

: any of a genus (Tapirus) of herbivorous chiefly nocturnal perissodactyl mammals of tropical America and southeastern Asia from Myanmar to Sumatra that have a heavy sparsely hairy body and the snout and upper lip prolonged into a short flexible proboscis

Illustration of tapir

Examples of tapir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Look for designs featuring either the toucan, the country’s national bird, or the tapir, the Belizean national mascot. —Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 30 June 2025

The results indicated that 40 percent of these species are now endangered, which is four times higher than in regions where monkeys and tapirs can act as seed dispersers. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 16 June 2025

One showed prints of a three-toed ungulate, possibly a rhinoceros or ancient tapir. —Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025

One tapir repeatedly chased another male away from a watering hole, the study said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese tapir, tapira, from Tupi tapiʔíra

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tapir

noun

ta·​pir ˈtā-pər 

plural tapir or tapirs

: any of several plant-eating hoofed mammals of tropical America and southeastern Asia that are related to the horse and rhinoceros and have a long flexible snout, a very short tail, and short thick legs