# reindeer

/ˈɹeɪnˌdɪɹ/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪndiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reindeer
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR A2

a large deer that lives in very cold northern areas like Scandinavia or Alaska.

For teachers: a large deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, inhabiting Arctic and subarctic tundra and boreal forests.

- We saw a herd of reindeer crossing the snowy road in northern Norway.
- The indigenous Sámi people have traditionally relied on reindeer for their meat, hides, and as a means of transportation across the frozen tundra.

Usage: The plural form can be either 'reindeer' or 'reindeers', though 'reindeer' is more common when referring to a group.

### 2. to herd reindeer

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to work as a farmer who looks after and moves groups of reindeer.

For teachers: to engage in the herding, farming, or management of reindeer populations.

- His family has been reindeering in the mountains for many generations.
- The community continues to reindeer according to ancestral patterns, moving the animals between seasonal grazing grounds despite modern environmental pressures.

## Examples

- The reindeer lives in the cold snowy mountains.
- Indigenous groups in northern Scandinavia have herded reindeer for centuries, relying on them for meat, fur, and transport.
- Unlike most other deer species, both male and female reindeer grow antlers, which they shed and regrow in an annual cycle tied to their breeding and social hierarchy.

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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.