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

Seen from above, thin yellow stripes crisscross its head and back like a network, a similar pattern as giraffes or pythons. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025

An asteroid twice the size of a giraffe is due to pass closer to our planet than the moon today. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

Having celebrated his 19th birthday this past August, Mac surpassed the average life expectancy of male Masai giraffes. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024

In comparison, an average male giraffe grows to around 16 to 18 feet tall. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

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

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