noun
zebra
ZEHB-ruh
noun
1
A wild African horse-like animal with black-and-white stripes.
"A herd of zebra grazed near the watering hole."
"The stripes on a zebra are unique to each individual, like a fingerprint."
2
Informal term for a sports referee, from the black-and-white striped shirt they wear.
"The crowd booed the zebra after the controversial call."
3
In medicine, an unlikely or exotic diagnosis, as opposed to a common one.
"The professor reminded the students: don't chase zebras when it's probably just a common cold."
How to Use Zebra
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe striped African animal — and, informally, a nickname for referees or for rare medical diagnoses.
Memory tip
The medical saying "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras" means: assume the common explanation first.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a herd of zebra
zebra crossing
chasing zebras
Word Forms
zebra plural, zebras plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “zebra”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A herd of _____ grazed near the watering hole.
Etymology
Traced through Portuguese zebra/zebro back to Latin equiferus ("wild horse"), from equus ("horse") + ferus ("wild").