zebra
Pluralzebra, zebras
- 1A wild African animal that looks like a horse and has black and white stripes.
Like a horse wearing a coat of black and white stripes.
A zebra can run fast to escape lions out on the open plains.
We saw a whole herd of zebras at the safari park.
Note
- 2
- 3A referee in a game, especially one wearing a black and white striped shirt.
Like the animal, the referee wears black and white stripes.
The zebra blew his whistle and stopped the game.
Fans booed the zebra after the bad call.
UsageFans' word. In formal writing, say referee.
Similarreferee, ref, official, umpire
Note
Less common meanings
- 4A rare or unlikely illness that a doctor suspects when a common one is far more likely.
Like expecting a rare wild animal when a common one is right in front of you.
The young doctor chased a zebra when it was really just a common cold.
Experienced doctors rarely go looking for a zebra first.
UsageUsed mostly by doctors. Others say a rare or unlikely diagnosis.
Note
- 5An offensive word for a person who has one Black parent and one white parent.
Other children cruelly called him a zebra because his parents came from different backgrounds.
Some classmates called her a zebra to mock her mixed-race family.
UsageVery hurtful. Say mixed-race or biracial instead.
Note
- 6A person with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or a related condition that makes the joints bend too far.
- 7A small striped fish that people keep in home aquariums.
- 8A black and white butterfly related to the swallowtails, found in South and Southeast Asia.
Practice
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Origin
The word came into English around 1600 from Italian and Portuguese zebra. It probably goes back through older words for a wild ass to Latin equiferus, meaning 'wild horse', from equus ('horse') plus ferus ('wild').
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Zebra entered English around 1600. en.wiktionary.org
- English zebra came through Italian and Portuguese zebra. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin equiferus means 'wild horse'. en.wiktionary.org
- Equiferus combines equus, meaning 'horse', and ferus, meaning 'wild'. en.wiktionary.org