menagerie
2 synonyms for menagerie, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A collection of wild or exotic animals kept for display, especially historically by wealthy owners as a private forerunner to the modern zoo.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
zoological garden
How to use menagerie
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a menagerie of animals
private menagerie
Etymology
From French ménagerie, from ménager ("to keep house") — originally covering the care of household animals before narrowing to mean a collection of wild ones.
Full origin of menagerie →Frequently asked questions
What does “menagerie” mean?
The word “menagerie” means a collection of wild or exotic animals kept for display, especially historically by wealthy owners as a private forerunner to the modern zoo. In plain terms, a collection of animals on show, or loosely, any odd mixed bunch of things or people.
How do you pronounce “menagerie”?
“Menagerie” is pronounced muh-NAD-zhuh-rih (/məˈnædʒəri/ in IPA).
How do you use “menagerie” in a sentence?
Here is “menagerie” used in a sentence: “The duke kept a menagerie of lions and peacocks on his estate.”
What part of speech is “menagerie”?
“Menagerie” is a noun.
Where does the word “menagerie” come from?
The word “menagerie” comes from French. From French ménagerie, from ménager ("to keep house") — originally covering the care of household animals before narrowing to mean a collection of wild ones.
How many meanings does “menagerie” have?
“Menagerie” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a collection of wild or exotic animals kept for display, especially historically by wealthy owners as a private forerunner to the modern zoo.
