reindeer

noun

rein·​deer ˈrān-ˌdir How to pronounce reindeer (audio)
: caribou
used especially for one of the Old World

Examples of reindeer in a Sentence

a large herd of reindeer
Recent Examples on the Web From a misfit reindeer to a dancing queen, the audio selections chosen for entry into the National Recording Registry of The Library of Congress this year span a large swath of the 20th century. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024 Her popular Aurora workshop, for example, takes travelers to northern Sweden to learn about reindeer herding culture from the Indigenous Sámi, whose deep connection to the environment and stories of their homeland create meaningful experiences for guests. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reindeer 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reindeer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reindere, from Old Norse hreinn reindeer + Middle English deer animal, deer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reindeer was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near reindeer

Cite this Entry

“Reindeer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reindeer. Accessed 5 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

reindeer

noun
rein·​deer ˈrān-ˌdi(ə)r How to pronounce reindeer (audio)
plural reindeer also reindeers
: caribou
used especially for one of the Old World

More from Merriam-Webster on reindeer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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