plural zebras
1
plural also zebra
: any of several swift African mammals (Equus grevyi, E. quagga synonym E. burchelli, and E. zebra) related to the horse but distinctively and conspicuously patterned in stripes of black or dark brown and white or buff
2
[from the shirts patterned in black-and-white stripes worn by football referees]
: referee sense 2
3
Examples of zebra in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This female Grevy’s zebra foal was born at the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park in April 2024, marking a first — check out the little one!
—
Fox News, 7 May 2024
The zebra’s owner pulled over on Interstate 90 to fix the issue when the zebras decided to make their escape, the animal service said.
—Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 4 May 2024
The group of zebras was being transported from Winlock, Washington, to Anaconda, Montana, when the animals got loose while the owner had reportedly stopped to fix a problem with the trailer, the organization said, noting the other three zebras were recaptured within hours of the escape.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 4 May 2024
So far, three of the zebras have been recaptured, but one remains on the loose.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2024
Law enforcement officers and the public in Washington state came together Sunday to take a rare hazard off the roads: runaway zebras.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2024
Despite its resemblance to a zebra thanks to its striped hindquarters – a likeness that originally duped scientists into classifying them as relatives of the zebra – the okapi shares evolutionary traits with its much taller and lankier cousin.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Seconds later, the cheetahs burst into a small group of zebras.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024
African Plains exhibit features giraffes, lions, zebras and more.
—Michelle Jenkins, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
Fox News, 7 May 2024
The zebra’s owner pulled over on Interstate 90 to fix the issue when the zebras decided to make their escape, the animal service said.
—Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 4 May 2024
The group of zebras was being transported from Winlock, Washington, to Anaconda, Montana, when the animals got loose while the owner had reportedly stopped to fix a problem with the trailer, the organization said, noting the other three zebras were recaptured within hours of the escape.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 4 May 2024
So far, three of the zebras have been recaptured, but one remains on the loose.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2024
Law enforcement officers and the public in Washington state came together Sunday to take a rare hazard off the roads: runaway zebras.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 29 Apr. 2024
Despite its resemblance to a zebra thanks to its striped hindquarters – a likeness that originally duped scientists into classifying them as relatives of the zebra – the okapi shares evolutionary traits with its much taller and lankier cousin.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Seconds later, the cheetahs burst into a small group of zebras.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024
African Plains exhibit features giraffes, lions, zebras and more.
—Michelle Jenkins, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zebra.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Zebra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zebra. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
zebra
noun
ze·bra
ˈzēb-rə 
plural zebras also zebra
1
: any of several hoofed plant-eating African mammals that are related to the horse, have a hide striped in black or dark brown and white or buff, and are swift runners
2
: a small Indian fish with blue and silver stripes that is often kept in tropical aquariums
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