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capybara

American

[kap-uh-bahr-uh] / ˌkæp əˈbɑr ə /

Or capibara

noun

a South American tailless rodent, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, living along the banks of rivers and lakes, having partly webbed feet: the largest living rodent.

capybara British

/ ˌkæpɪˈbɑːrə /

noun

the largest rodent: a pig-sized amphibious hystricomorph, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, resembling a guinea pig and inhabiting river banks in Central and South America: family Hydrochoeridae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of capybara

1765–75; < New Latin < Portuguese capibara < Tupi

Vocabulary lists containing capybara

South America - Middle School

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South America - Introductory

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South America - High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In recent years the semi-aquatic capybara -- native to South America -- has gained a devoted following online, and its image is increasingly used on toys, clothing and home decor items.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Today, Mexico City is home to animal-themed Capybara Burger, a store near the center square that sells nothing but capybara paraphernalia and several zoos where visitors can see or pet them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

“Flow” A cat, a dog and a capybara walk into a boat and are forced to make do as a society.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024

A capybara who went missing from a Shropshire zoo sparking news coverage around the world has been reunited with her family and is settling back in.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2024

The creature made little or no resistance; and having dragged it up to the fire, we saw that it was a capybara, or water-hog.

From The Young Llanero A Story of War and Wild Life in Venezuela by Kingston, William Henry Giles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023