wildebeest

noun

wil·de·beest ˈwil-də-ˌbēst

plural wildebeests also wildebeest

: either of two large African antelopes (Connochaetes gnou and C. taurinus) with a head like that of an ox, short mane, long tail, and horns in both sexes that curve downward and outward

called also gnu

Examples of wildebeest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And, in a roundabout way, wildebeests would profit, too, as part of the greater ecosystem. —

Tarpley Hitt, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2023 Looking across the Serengeti at herds of honking wildebeest, most of us would be awed by the exuberance of these migrating masses, resplendent in their magnitude. —

Amy Brady, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023 The list doesn't include even one of the big wild mammals for which Africa is famous — its zebras and wildebeests, its rhinos and hippos, its giraffes and Cape buffalo. —

Jared Diamond, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2023 Creative and local meals are each as nourishing and beautiful as the black wildebeests, giraffes, and elephants down the hill. —

Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2023 The Mara's golden grasslands stretch to the horizon, interrupted by graceful acacia trees and rumbling throngs of wildebeest and zebra — and their stalking predators. —

Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2023 More than a million wildebeest along with hundreds of thousands of zebra, topi and other gazelle start their annual journey in the Serengeti National Park creating the largest herd movement of animals on the planet. —

Chadd Scott, Forbes, 4 May 2023 Drought killed 512 wildebeests, 430 zebras, 205 elephants, 51 buffaloes, and 12 giraffes in Kenya. —

Marion Renault, The New Republic, 3 May 2023 The pool is slightly elevated to allow guests to gaze out over the endless grass plains of the Makgadikgadi and during wet season, swimmers and sunbathers have the opportunity to spot some spectacular views of the zebra and wildebeest migrations that move into the area. —

Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 5 June 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wildebeest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.