white rhinoceros
noun
variants
or white rhino
: a rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) of southern and central Africa that is distinguished from the black rhinoceros especially by larger size and by a squared upper lip lacking a protrusion
Examples of white rhinoceros in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Large herbivores like the American bison and the white rhinoceros traditionally clipped grass and ate shrubs, reducing available wildfire fuel.
—
Curtis Abraham, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2023
The last male northern white rhinoceros — his name was Sudan — died in March, leaving only two members of the subspecies behind: his daughter and granddaughter.
—Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2019
For example, there are only two northern white rhinoceros left in the world, and both are female.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2023
The rhino embryo could then be implanted into a surrogate mother, a southern white rhinoceros, who would later give birth to a hybrid calf.
—Rebecca Boyle, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2019
Thirty years ago, Les helped the South African safari company pioneer the practice of rewilding and animal translocation, moving 21 white rhinoceros from Zululand to South Africa and turning a patchwork of private ranches into Phinda Reserve, now home to the Big Five.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Apr. 2022
Guests staying on site can see endangered species, such as the black rhinoceros, Grevy’s zebra — and, most notably, the world’s last northern white rhinoceroses, two females named Najin and Fatu.
—Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2023
The white rhinoceros, too, gone forever.
—Maureen Stanton, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2020
Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhinoceros, in his final moments.
—Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2018
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Curtis Abraham, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2023
The last male northern white rhinoceros — his name was Sudan — died in March, leaving only two members of the subspecies behind: his daughter and granddaughter.
—Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2019
For example, there are only two northern white rhinoceros left in the world, and both are female.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2023
The rhino embryo could then be implanted into a surrogate mother, a southern white rhinoceros, who would later give birth to a hybrid calf.
—Rebecca Boyle, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2019
Thirty years ago, Les helped the South African safari company pioneer the practice of rewilding and animal translocation, moving 21 white rhinoceros from Zululand to South Africa and turning a patchwork of private ranches into Phinda Reserve, now home to the Big Five.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Apr. 2022
Guests staying on site can see endangered species, such as the black rhinoceros, Grevy’s zebra — and, most notably, the world’s last northern white rhinoceroses, two females named Najin and Fatu.
—Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2023
The white rhinoceros, too, gone forever.
—Maureen Stanton, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2020
Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhinoceros, in his final moments.
—Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'white rhinoceros.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1801, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near white rhinoceros
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“White rhinoceros.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20rhinoceros. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about white rhinoceros
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