zebra

noun

ze·​bra ˈzē-brə 

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

: zebra crossing

zebrine

ˈzē-ˌbrīn 

Canadian and British also ˈze-

adjective or noun

Examples of zebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The picture, which the Post shared, showed a room with various elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, crocodile, zebra and leopard heads. —Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026

Nunez-Mir said there are local invaders already well known for their negative impacts, like the zebra and quagga mussels in Lake Michigan that damage infrastructure and disrupt the food chain. —Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026

What that means for Grindr users right now is that their profile grid will always contain one square devoted to Madonna, reclining in a fuchsia body stalking with zebra stripes projected over her. —Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026

They are spread out across six zones, including Red Rocks (tigers, zebra and giraffes), Lakeside Crossing (sea lions, seals and stingrays) and the immersive River’s Edge (elephants, cheetahs and hippos). —Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing zebra

• Grevy's zebra
• zebra crossing
• zebra finch
• zebra fish
• zebra mussel

Rhymes for zebra

• libra

Kids 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