warthog

noun

wart·​hog ˈwȯrt-ˌhȯg How to pronounce warthog (audio)
-ˌhäg
: either of two wild African hogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus or P. africanus) that have large protruding tusks and in the male two pairs of rough warty excrescences on the face

Illustration of warthog

Illustration of warthog

Examples of warthog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For instance, recent research by Liana Zanette of Western University, London, Ontario, and colleagues has shown that tape recordings of human voices startle a whole host of large African mammals, from warthogs to giraffes. Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026 The original video depicts numerous other Democrats as animals, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a warthog, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a donkey and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer as a zebra. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026 Grazers—zebras, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, and more—soon follow, benefiting from the elephants’ labor. Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026 Within weeks, the lions were thriving; killing warthogs, bushbuck, and puku, gaining weight, and displaying the social cohesion critical for survival. Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for warthog

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of warthog was in 1840

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Warthog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warthog. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

warthog

noun
wart·​hog ˈwȯ(ə)rt-ˌhȯg How to pronounce warthog (audio)
-ˌhäg
: a wild African hog with large tusks and in the male two pairs of rough warty growths on the face

More from Merriam-Webster on warthog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster