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• zoo
  zoo

  noun

  a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.
• zoo-
  zoo-

  a combining form meaning “living being,” “animal,” used in the formation of compound words.

zoo

¹ American  

[zoo] / zu /

noun

zoos plural

1. Also called zoological garden.  a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.

2. Informal. a place, activity, or group marked by chaos or unrestrained behavior.

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zoo- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “living being,” “animal,” used in the formation of compound words.

   zoometry; zooplankton.

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zoo- ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating animals

   zooplankton

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zoo ² British  

/ zuː /

noun

1. Formal term: zoological garden.  a place where live animals are kept, studied, bred, and exhibited to the public

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zoo Idioms  

1. see it's a zoo.

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Usage

What does zoo- mean? The combining form zoo- is used like a prefix meaning “living being” or "animal." It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form zoo- comes from Greek zôion, meaning “animal.”What are variants of zoo-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, zoo- becomes zo-, as in zooid. When combined as a suffix, zoo- becomes -zoa or -zoon, as in protozoa or ectozoon. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for zo-, -zoa, and -zoon.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• zoos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of zoo¹

First recorded in 1840–50; first two syllables of zoological garden taken as one syllable

Origin of zoo-²

Combining form representing Greek zôion animal

Explanation

A zoo is a large park where wild animals are on display. If you're interested in lemurs, orangutans, or even boa constrictors, you might want to plan a trip to the zoo. Most modern zoos serve two functions: to exhibit exotic animals for paying visitors and to protect endangered animal species. Responsible zoos fulfill the second goal by breeding animals, educating the public, and reintroducing animals to the wild. Any wild and crowded place can also be called a zoo: "I went to the mall the day before Christmas. It was a total zoo!" The word zoo, from a Greek root that means "animal," was originally shorthand for the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens in London, which opened in 1828.

Example Sentences

Two elephants trudged across a makeshift football field at Mexico's Guadalajara Zoo in a whacky attempt to predict the score of the 2026 World Cup's opening game.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, illegal wildlife trafficking is the second-largest threat to species after habitat loss and the world’s fourth-most-lucrative trafficking industry.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Today's visitors to Battersea Park Children's Zoo use the same entrance as they did in 1951, only without the bright lights and go karts.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

If you’re visiting São Paulo and want to see capybaras, the São Paulo Zoo is your only guarantee.

From Slate • May 27, 2026

Koffi had worked in the Night Zoo for eleven years—looking after its beasts in every condition, from torrid rainfall to scorching sunshine—but she’d never felt a heat quite like this.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• circus