Word
menagerie
US/məˈnædʒɝi/
UK/mənˈædʒjəɹˌi/
Definition
n. a collection of wild or exotic animals kept together in one place. It is often used to describe a group of people who are very different from each other.
n. a collection of wild or exotic animals kept in captivity, typically for display or study. In a figurative sense, it refers to a diverse or eclectic group of people.
Examples
“The zoo's menagerie includes rare birds and large cats.”
“The company's menagerie of employees ranged from young tech developers to retired professors.”
“The royal menagerie at the palace was once a symbol of power, housing creatures that few commoners had ever seen in the wild.”
Examples
simple
“The zoo's menagerie includes rare birds and large cats.”
contextual
“The company's menagerie of employees ranged from young tech developers to retired professors.”
complex
“The royal menagerie at the palace was once a symbol of power, housing creatures that few commoners had ever seen in the wild.”
Real-World Examples
“Furthermore, transporting these animals to the capital or the imperial menageries created significant logistical and economic challenges.” “The author said he moved to his new home in West Sussex because it had land for his "huge and expanding menagerie", and was quiet.” Etymology
From French ménagerie, derived from ménager (“to keep house”), household. Housekeeping used to include taking care of domestic animals.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.