elephant

American  

[el-uh-fuhnt] / ˈɛl ə fənt /

noun

• elephants,
  plural
• elephant
  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).

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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

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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.)

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elephant More Idioms  

1. see see the elephant; white elephant.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• elephantoid
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• elephant
  plural
• elephants
  plural

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

See Examples For:

elephant elephants

Each chapter surveys the hoof, trunk or some other segment of the conceptual elephant in more or less chronological progression and finishes with a brief summary of what readers ought to take away.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The Supreme Court has directed states to prevent the blockage of elephant corridors -- routes used by herds to move between rapidly shrinking habitats -- and ordered a survey to identify obstructions along those routes.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Other experts who did not want to be named said the pesticide theory was inconsistent with elephant behaviour.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Don’t miss: If Social Security’s funding crisis is the elephant in the room, this is the mouse everyone has overlooked.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

Or the elephant in the SUV, I guess.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

In a separate order, the top court on Tuesday ordered tighter welfare safeguards for India's more than 2,600 captive elephants, including ensuring medical records for each animal and regular health checks.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

"Maternal age effects are incredibly common, from invertebrates up through humans, elephants, other primates and other mammals," said Kristin Gribble, an associate scientist in the Bay Paul Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026

“Animals that are more skittish—like elephants or buffalo—are more on their guard when they hear an engine running,” said van der Steuijt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

In an interview with AFP, she noted that few adult male elephants had died, even though they are the ones most likely to raid crops.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

“I liked it, too. Although the advice about following the smell of elephants did nearly get me run over by a carriage.”

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

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