giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe jə-ˈraf 

plural giraffes

1

or plural giraffe : a large fleet African ruminant mammal (Giraffa camelopardalis) that is the tallest of living quadrupeds and has a very long neck and a short coat with dark blotches separated by pale lines

2

capitalized : camelopardalis

giraffish

jə-ˈra-fish 

adjective

Illustration of giraffe

• giraffe 1

Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to African Lions, Safari World is home to an abundance of wildlife, including African elephants, Bengal tigers, giraffes, and zebras. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

Wildlife Lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, rhino, hyaenas, cheetah, giraffe, zebras and the famous wildebeest migration can all be seen in Kenya and Tanzania. —Kent Redding, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025

While staying at this 1930s former hunting lodge in Kenya, there’s no need to head out on safari—one of the continent’s best animal encounters is found at this boutique hotel and giraffe breeding sanctuary. —Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Other highlights include a lagoon where kids can splash and cool off, a zipline, train rides, and the chance to feed animals like giraffes and kangaroos. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian giraffa, from Arabic zirāfa

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing giraffe

• reticulated giraffe

Rhymes for giraffe

• behalf
• carafe
• digraph
• distaff
• falstaff
• subgraph
• autograph
• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph

Kids Definition

giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe ˈjə-ˈraf 

plural giraffes or giraffe

: a large swift cud-chewing spotted African mammal with a very long neck that is the tallest of living four-footed animals