noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

zebra

ZEHB-ruh

Zebra (noun) means a wild African horse-like animal with black-and-white stripes. Example: “A herd of zebra grazed near the watering hole.”

noun

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."

Informal term for a sports referee, from the black-and-white striped shirt they wear.

"The crowd booed the zebra after the controversial call."

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 notes

In 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").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for zebra

Debra algebra vertebra

See all rhymes for zebra →

Frequently asked questions

What does “zebra” mean?

The word “zebra” means a wild African horse-like animal with black-and-white stripes. In plain terms, the striped African animal — and, informally, a nickname for referees or for rare medical diagnoses.

How do you pronounce “zebra”?

“Zebra” is pronounced ZEHB-ruh (/ˈzɛbɹə/ in IPA).

How do you use “zebra” in a sentence?

Here is “zebra” used in a sentence: “A herd of zebra grazed near the watering hole.”

What part of speech is “zebra”?

“Zebra” is a noun.

Where does the word “zebra” come from?

The word “zebra” comes from Latin. Traced through Portuguese zebra/zebro back to Latin equiferus ("wild horse"), from equus ("horse") + ferus ("wild").

Is “zebra” a common word?

“Zebra” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “zebra” have?

“Zebra” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wild African horse-like animal with black-and-white stripes.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include zebra:

Words that start with Z