gazelle

noun

ga·​zelle gə-ˈzel How to pronounce gazelle (audio)
plural gazelles also gazelle
: any of numerous small to medium graceful and swift African and Asian antelopes (Gazella and related genera)

Illustration of gazelle

Illustration of gazelle

Examples of gazelle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And animals as wild and wide-ranging as monkeys, crocodiles, and gazelles played a part in the pet culture of ancient Egypt. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024 How so? Dama gazelle, or addra gazelle Sahel is a shy dama gazelle. Lee Powell, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 Very Troubled Child has also come out with Wes Anderson–inspired luggage that's part of its Savanna collection, featuring tanned luggage, iPad cases, and wallets with gazelles, lions, and warthogs embroidered on them. Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2023 There’s no room to pity the gazelles who must tiptoe around him. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 Dec. 2023 Habitat loss has pushed the dama gazelle to the fringes of the sub-Saharan desert. Lee Powell, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 The study team had first thought nomadic hunters moved between distant kites with the migrations of herds of gazelles and antelopes. Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 17 May 2023 Then there's the desert with its rolling hills of sand stamped with the footprints of Arabian oryx and gazelles; the souks with their labyrinth of stalls, bins overflowing with a rainbow of spices; and the traditional abra boats ferrying riders across the Dubai Creek. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 2 Oct. 2023 In the morning, sit down to breakfast on the veranda and keep your eyes peeled for a few gazelles popping by to say hello over coffee. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 2 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gazelle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from Arabic ghazāl

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gazelle was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near gazelle

Cite this Entry

“Gazelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gazelle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gazelle

noun
ga·​zelle gə-ˈzel How to pronounce gazelle (audio)
plural gazelles also gazelle
: any of numerous small graceful swift antelopes of Africa and Asia

More from Merriam-Webster on gazelle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!