What does "elephant" mean?
A large mammal of the family Elephantidae in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia.
Elephant
/ˈɛl.ɪ.fənt/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A large mammal of the family Elephantidae in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia.
- Grammar: elephant is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: aardvark, aardwolf, alpaca, angora goat.
- Useful contrasts: insignificant animal, insignificant matter, miniature creature.
- Usage evidence: Seen from a distance, the hill looks like an elephant.
How to use "elephant"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "elephant" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "elephant" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "elephant" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "elephant" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "elephant" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aardvark" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "elephant", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A large mammal of the family Elephantidae in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia. countable, uncountable
- 2 five-toed pachyderm wordnet
- 3 Any member of the subfamily Elephantinae not also of the genera Mammuthus and Primelephas. countable, uncountable
- 4 the symbol of the Republican Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874 wordnet
- 5 Anything huge and ponderous. countable, figuratively, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 Synonym of elephant paper. countable, uncountable
- 7 used when counting to add length, so that each count takes about one second British, childish, countable, uncountable
"Let's play hide and seek. I'll count. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant..."
- 8 Ivory. obsolete, uncountable
"He sent rich gifts of elephant and gold."
- 9 A xiangqi piece that is moved two points diagonally, may not jump over intervening pieces and may not cross the river. countable, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 The 105th sura (chapter) of the Quran.
Antonyms
insignificant animalinsignificant matterminiature creatureminor issue
Example
"Seen from a distance, the hill looks like an elephant."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "elephant"?
Common synonyms include: aardvark, aardwolf, alpaca, angora goat, animal, anteater.
How do you use "elephant" in a sentence?
Seen from a distance, the hill looks like an elephant.
How do you pronounce "elephant"?
Pronounced /ˈɛl.ɪ.fənt/.
Etymology
From Middle English elefant, elefaunt, from Old French elefant, elefan, olifant, re-latinized in Middle French as elephant, from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφᾱς (eléphās) (gen. ἐλέφαντος (eléphantos)). Believed to be derived from an Afroasiatic form such as Proto-Berber *eḷu (“elephant”) (compare Tamahaq êlu, Tamasheq alu) or Egyptian ꜣbw (“elephant; ivory”). More at ivory. Replaced Middle English olifant (from the aforementioned Old French form, from Vulgar Latin *olifantus), which replaced Old English elpend (“elephant”).