# buffalo

/ˈbəfəˌɫoʊ/ (US) · /bˈʌfəlˌəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buffalo
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. large animal

noun · CEFR A2

a large, powerful animal with horns, like the water buffalo in Asia or the Cape buffalo in Africa.

For teachers: any of several large wild ox-like mammals of the subtribe Bubalina, specifically the African Cape buffalo or the Asian water buffalo.

- The water buffalo spent the hot afternoon standing in the river to stay cool.
- Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the African buffalo, which remains one of the continent's most formidable and unpredictable herbivores.

### 2. American bison

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a large, hairy animal with a hump on its back, found in North America.

For teachers: the American bison (Bison bison), a large North American bovine characterized by a shaggy coat and a prominent shoulder hump.

- We saw a large herd of buffalo grazing in the national park.
- Historically, the buffalo was central to the economy and culture of many Indigenous peoples across the Great Plains of North America.

### 3. to confuse or intimidate

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Informal

to confuse, trick, or frighten someone so they do not know what to do.

For teachers: to overawe, baffle, or deceive someone through intimidation or superior wit.

- Don't let his loud voice buffalo you into agreeing with him.
- The witness was completely buffaloed by the lawyer's aggressive questioning and began to contradict his own earlier testimony.

### 4. a city

noun · CEFR B1

a large city in the state of New York, near Niagara Falls.

For teachers: a major city in Western New York, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Erie.

- It snows a lot in Buffalo during the winter months.
- Buffalo served as a vital industrial hub during the nineteenth century due to its strategic location at the terminus of the Erie Canal.

## Examples

- We saw a large buffalo grazing in the field.
- The herd of buffalo moved slowly across the grassy plains in search of a fresh water source.
- Conservation efforts in the late twentieth century were instrumental in restoring the buffalo population to levels that could sustain the local ecosystem.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.