elephant

American  

[el-uh-fuhnt] / ˈɛl ə fənt /

noun

elephants plural

1. a very large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, the only extant family of proboscideans and comprising the genera Loxodonta (African elephants ) and Elephas (Asian elephants ): Elephants of all species are characterized by a long, prehensile trunk formed of the nose and upper lip, pillarlike legs, and prominent tusks, which are possessed by both sexes of Loxodonta and just the males of Elephas.

2. a representation of this animal, used in the United States since 1874 as the emblem of the Republican Party.

3. Chiefly British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 23 × 28 inches (58 × 71 centimeters).

---

idioms

1. elephant in the room. see elephant in the room.

elephant British  

/ ˈɛlɪfənt /

noun

1. either of the two proboscidean mammals of the family Elephantidae . The African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) is the larger species, with large flapping ears and a less humped back than the Indian elephant ( Elephas maximus ), of S and SE Asia

2. a size of writing paper, 23 by 28 inches

3. an obvious truth deliberately ignored by all parties in a situation

---

elephant Cultural  

1. A symbol (see also symbol) of the Republican party, introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. (Compare donkey.)

---

elephant More Idioms  

1. see see the elephant; white elephant.

---

Other Word Forms

• elephantoid
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of elephant

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephant- (stem of eléphās ) “elephant”; replacing Middle English olifaunt, from Anglo-French, from unattested Vulgar Latin olifantus, for Latin elephantus

Explanation

An elephant is an enormous, four-footed animal with big ears and a long trunk. By weight, elephants are the largest land-dwelling animals. The largest species of elephant, the African savanna elephant, weighs up to 14,000 pounds! African elephants usually have long, curved tusks; some male Asian elephants have tusks, but females do not. You can look at an elephants' ears to help distinguish between African and Asian elephants: African elephants have large, fan-shaped ears, while Asian elephants have smaller, more rounded ears. Elephants use their long trunks for grasping things, vocalizing, and sucking up water. These herbivores travel around foraging in large, tight-knit groups of females and their young. Adult males tend to be more solitary.

Example Sentences

Both are about to learn it is one elephant, with three sides and one body — and it is not in a good mood.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

But no one could ignore the elephant in the room.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

The island is also home to animals such as island foxes, spotted skunks and elephant seals.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Eventually passengers were able to leave the ship zipping away on Zodiac boats and make their way to the island to see its main residents: penguins, fur seals and elephant seals.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

“He walks like an elephant would walk if an elephant could only take human-size steps.”

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• boar