topi

1 of 2

noun (1)

to·​pi

variant of topee

: a lightweight helmet-shaped hat made of pith or cork

topi

2 of 2

noun (2)

to·​pi ˈtō-pē How to pronounce topi (audio)
plural topi or topis
: a sub-Saharan antelope (Damaliscus lunatus synonym D. korrigum) having a glossy usually reddish-brown coat with purplish-black and yellowish markings

Examples of topi 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.
Noun
The range of habitats is varied and interesting: days might be spent watching lions lolling about in long grass; rare topi, plains zebra and Maasai giraffe browsing among acacias; or rhino munching amid thick undergrowth. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 Rangers identified it as an albino tiang, or Northern topi, officials said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025 The first five gurus, a succession of prophet-leaders, likely donned the seli topi, a woven cap worn by Hindus and Muslims and associated with humility and spiritual living. Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 21 June 2025 More than a million wildebeest along with hundreds of thousands of zebra, topi and other gazelle start their annual journey in the Serengeti National Park creating the largest herd movement of animals on the planet. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 4 May 2023 Male topi antelopes, for example, falsely sound the alarm if a female starts to leave their display arenas. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Mar. 2021 Because their prevarication employs the fear of death, topi are among the most successful, too. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 24 May 2010

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

perhaps from Swahili

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of topi was in 1894

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Topi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topi. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on topi

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster