zebra

noun

ze·​bra ˈzē-brə How to pronounce zebra (audio)
 Canadian and British also  ˈze-
plural zebras
1
plural also zebra : any of several swift African mammals (Equus grevyi, E. quagga, 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
zebrine
ˈzē-ˌbrīn How to pronounce zebra (audio)
 Canadian and British also  ˈze-
adjective or noun

Examples of zebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Visitors will of course be thrilled to see a family of lions frolicking or a dazzle of zebras having lunch. Sherrie Nachman, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 The true culprit, a rambunctious zebra, tears through the screen and plunges a normal suburban home into tumult with the help of some other animals and a stash of fireworks. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Like a zebra eating a quesadilla, or the planets collapsing into Texas? Claire Franken, TVLine, 28 Mar. 2025 After surviving the shipwreck, Pi’s joy, humor and despair turn on a dime as his lifeboat is beset by surviving animals — a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan named Orange Juice, and our Royal Bengal tiger. John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for zebra

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese zebra, zebro wild ass, perhaps from Latin equiferus, kind of wild horse, from equus horse + ferus wild — more at equine, fierce

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of zebra was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zebra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zebra. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

zebra

noun
ze·​bra ˈzēb-rə How to pronounce zebra (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on zebra

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