zoo

1 of 2

noun

ˈzü 

plural zoos

1

: a facility with usually indoor and outdoor settings where living, typically wild animals are kept especially for public exhibition

called also zoological garden, zoological park

2

: a place, situation, or group marked by crowding, confusion, or unrestrained behavior

The convention was a zoo.

zoo-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or before a vowel zo-

1

: animal : animal kingdom or kind

zooid

zoology

2

: motile

zoospore

Synonyms of zoo

Noun

• commotion
• disturbance
• hurry
• stir
• fun
• racket
• turmoil
• fuss
• storm
• to-do
• noise
• hurricane
• pandemonium

Examples of zoo in a Sentence

Noun

The sixth grade classroom was a zoo after recess.

The supermarket was a real zoo on the night before the storm.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The zoo project fell through in 2025. —Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026

That’s the epiphany of a marooned American astronaut who thinks he’s been rescued by kindly Martians, only to realize he’s been installed as the newest exhibit in their zoo. —David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026

The zoo said Wednesday that the 11-pound (5-kilogram) male fox appears healthy after early examinations. —ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026

That forced the zoo also to begin charging for parking in its lots, which prompted questions about possible revenue-sharing and requests from the zoo for a long-term lease extension. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for zoological garden

Combining form

borrowed from Greek zōo-, zōio-, combining form from zôion "animal," derivative from the base of zṓō, zṓein (Homeric), zô, zên (Attic) "to be alive, live," going back to Indo-European *g^wi̯éh₃-(u)- "live" (whence also Tocharian B śāyau "[I] live"), full grade of a stem attested elsewhere with zero grade as *g^wih₃-u-, whence Latin vīvō, vīvere "to live," Old Church Slavic živǫ, žiti, Old Prussian giwa "(s/he) lives," Latvian dzīvu "(I) live," Sanskrit jīvati "(s/he) lives," Avestan juuaiti

Note: See also bio-, quick entry 1.

First Known Use

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing zoo

• petting zoo

Rhymes for zoo

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

zoo

noun

ˈzü 

plural zoos

: a garden or park where living usually wild animals are kept for showing to the public