# zebra

/ˈzibɹə/ (US) · /zˈɛbɹɐ/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/zebra
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a wild animal from Africa that looks like a horse with black and white stripes.

For teachers: an African wild equid characterised by a distinctive coat of black and white stripes. In medical contexts, sometimes used to refer to a rare or exotic diagnosis.

## Examples

- We saw a zebra running across the grass.
- The children were excited to see a zebra at the zoo during their school trip.
- While the common horse and the zebra share a similar skeletal structure, the latter's unique striped pattern serves as a complex mechanism for temperature regulation and predator confusion.

## Usage notes

- The plural form is typically 'zebras', though 'zebra' is occasionally used as a collective plural in hunting or scientific contexts.

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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.