noun
menagerie
muh-NAD-zhuh-rih
Menagerie (noun) means a collection of wild or exotic animals kept for display, especially historically by wealthy owners as a private forerunner to the modern zoo. Example: “The duke kept a menagerie of lions and peacocks on his estate.”
noun
1
A collection of wild or exotic animals kept for display, especially historically by wealthy owners as a private forerunner to the modern zoo.
"The duke kept a menagerie of lions and peacocks on his estate."
"Visitors paid to see the travelling menagerie."
2
A varied, mixed group of people or things.
"The party guest list was a menagerie of artists, bankers, and old friends."
How to use menagerie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA collection of animals on show, or loosely, any odd mixed bunch of things or people.
Common pairings
a menagerie of animals
private menagerie
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like menagerie.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- menageries
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The duke kept a _____ of lions and peacocks on his estate.
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.
Synonyms
View more →
zoo
zoological garden
Related words
Rhymes for menagerie
See all rhymes for 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.
