Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

zaire

noun
\ ˈzī(-ə)r How to pronounce zaire (audio) , zä-ˈir How to pronounce zaire (audio) \
plural zaires or zaire

Definition of zaire

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: the basic monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1967–71) and of Zaire (1971–96)

Zaire

geographical name
Za·​ire | \ zä-ˈir How to pronounce Zaire (audio) \

Definition of Zaire (Entry 2 of 2)

1 river in Africa — see congo sense 1
2 — see congo sense 2

Other Words from zaire

Geographical name

Zairean or Zairian \ zä-​ˈir-​ē-​ən How to pronounce Zairian (audio) \ adjective or noun

First Known Use of zaire

Noun

1967, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for zaire

Noun

French zaïre, from Zaïre, former name (1971–97) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about zaire

Dictionary Entries near zaire

zaibatsu

Zaidi

zain

zaire

Zaire

Zakarpats'ka

zakat

Statistics for zaire

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for zaire

The first known use of zaire was in 1967

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on zaire

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with zaire

Comments on zaire

What made you want to look up zaire? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

redaction

Listen to the pronounciation of redaction

an act or instance of editing or removing

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

What's that Smell?! Quiz

  • wide eyed dog smelling rose
  • Someone who is hircine smells like a:
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games