zookeeper

noun

zoo·​keep·​er ˈzü-ˌkē-pər How to pronounce zookeeper (audio)
: one who maintains or cares for animals in a zoo

Examples of zookeeper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Zach and Tori Roloff's Kids Enjoy Easter Egg Hunt in Pajamas: 'So Much to Be Grateful For' The clip then cuts to the Oregon Zoo, where a zookeeper teaches the kids how to feed Desi the giraffe. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024 Running out of food and water while facing constant peril from Russian bombs, a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers undertake a daring rescue. Jack Dunn, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024 Then, in 2010, a group of zookeepers invited her to attend a conference in Phoenix as their guest of honor. Clay Risen, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024 Bryan Whittington left his dream job as a zookeeper for higher pay and more flexibility as a medical school coordinator at Tulane University. Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2024 Scientists and zookeepers watched Monday as giraffes, gorillas, lions, macaws and flamingoes exhibited unusual behavior during the total solar eclipse. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024 From kids and adults of all ages, to scientists, zookeepers, eclipse-chasers — it’s been fascinating and delighting to get swept up in the excitement around this. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024 After a crash course in grasshopper husbandry, an initial group of about a dozen zookeepers were given a kit that included between 30 and 50 eggs, a heat-emitting incandescent bulb, and a glass enclosure. Matthew Ponsford, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024 Three years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, beloved zookeeper Jack Hanna’s family is sharing an update on his condition. Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zookeeper.' 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

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zookeeper was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near zookeeper

Cite this Entry

“Zookeeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zookeeper. Accessed 1 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

zookeeper

noun
zoo·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər How to pronounce zookeeper (audio)
: a person who keeps or cares for animals in a zoo
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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