rhinoceros

noun

rhi·​noc·​er·​os rī-ˈnäs-rəs How to pronounce rhinoceros (audio)
rə-,
-ˈnä-sə-
plural rhinoceroses also rhinoceros or rhinoceri rī-ˈnä-sə-ˌrī How to pronounce rhinoceros (audio)
rə-
: any of a family (Rhinocerotidae) of large heavyset herbivorous perissodactyl mammals of Africa and Asia that have one or two upright keratinous horns on the snout and thick gray to brown skin with little hair

Illustration of rhinoceros

Illustration of rhinoceros

Examples of rhinoceros in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania The Four Seasons resides inside the famous Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinoceroses) roam. Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The zoo is now home to a herd of five rhinoceroses, including Spike, Mambo and Gloria, who is also Zenzele's grandmother, according to the zoo. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 12 Feb. 2024 Inspection of nearby animal teeth and bones revealed that these early humans existed amid a harsh, tundra landscape populated by reindeer, cave bears, horses and woolly rhinoceros in conditions comparable to modern Siberia or northern Scandinavia. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 The play saw numerous characters transform into rhinoceroses while others around them remained indifferent, a mass metamorphosis that mirrored the rise of Nazi fascism before World War II. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 The new arrival brings the number of rhinoceroses at the zoo to five, including male Spike and females Mambo and Gloria. The Indianapolis Star, 12 Feb. 2024 The mother and calf will spend time indoors alone together before the calf is introduced to the three other rhinoceroses who live at the Indianapolis Zoo. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024 The dig revealed the presence of reindeer, cave bears, woolly rhinoceroses and horses. Katie Hunt, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024 The team found reindeer, cave bear, wooly rhinoceros and horse bones, meaning the cold environment was like the steppe tundras found in modern Siberia and northern Scandinavia. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhinoceros.' 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

Middle English rinoceros, from Anglo-French, from Latin rhinocerot-, rhinoceros, from Greek rhinokerōt-, rhinokerōs, from rhin- + keras horn — more at horn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhinoceros was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rhinoceros

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

rhinoceros

noun
rhi·​noc·​er·​os rī-ˈnäs-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce rhinoceros (audio)
plural rhinoceroses also rhinoceros
: any of various large plant-eating mammals of Africa and Asia that are related to the horse and have a thick skin with little hair, three toes on each foot, and one or two heavy upright horns on the snout
Etymology

Middle English rinoceros "rhinoceros," from Latin rhinocerot-, rhinoceros (same meaning), from Greek rhinokerōt-, rhinokerōs, literally "nose-horned," from rhin-, rhis "nose" and keras "horn"

Word Origin
One of the largest animals found on land today is the thick-skinned rhinoceros. Another of the animal's characteristics, besides large size, is found on its snout. All rhinoceroses have at least one horn, and some have two horns. The English name for this animal with a horn or horns on its snout was borrowed from Latin rhinoceros. The Latin name, in turn, came from the Greek word rhinokerōs, which literally means "nose-horned." This word is made up of the Greek word rhin-, rhis, meaning "nose" and the word keras, meaning "horn."

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