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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

Noun Inflected Forms

• 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

“A community zoo needs consistent nourishment to flourish,” the report read.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

But after Trump Jr. touched down, the two men toured the Ambanis’ private zoo, and at night they performed a Gujarati folk dance, grinning as they moved together to the music.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

He said the babies would stay at the zoo for a number of years and "learn from mum and dad how to be a lemur."

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

One of three Bangkok studios the “Alien: Earth” production occupied housed the zoo, mess hall and engineering room sets and their interconnecting corridors on a single stage.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

This was about the time Mutti went to work in the zoo, with the elephants.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• circus