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
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.
The zookeepers’ contract, according to the lawsuit, states that management personnel at the zoo may step in to provide animal care during a work stoppage. Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 That viral video of the bear splashing in his ice bath exists because dedicated researchers and zookeepers are working to make sure polar bears have a future — in the Arctic and beyond. Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026 The zookeeper grabs him and delivers the line of the year. Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026 This came after zookeepers noticed the monkey struggled to interact with other monkeys after caretakers raised him following the abandonment of his mother. Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for zookeeper

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zookeeper was in 1886

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Cite this Entry

“Zookeeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zookeeper. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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
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