reindeer

American  

[reyn-deer] / ˈreɪnˌdɪər /

noun

reindeer, plural reindeers plural

1. any of several large deer of the genus Rangifer, of northern and Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, both male and female of which have antlers.

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reindeer British  

/ ˈreɪnˌdɪə /

noun

1. a large deer, Rangifer tarandus , having large branched antlers in the male and female and inhabiting the arctic regions of Greenland, Europe, and Asia. It also occurs in North America, where it is known as a caribou

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• reindeer
  plural
• reindeers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reindeer

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English raynder(e), from Old Norse hreindȳri, equivalent to hreinn “reindeer” + dȳr “animal” (cognate with deer )

Compare meaning

How does reindeer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• reindeer vs. deer
• caribou vs. reindeer

Explanation

A reindeer is a large, hoofed mammal with antlers. Contrary to popular Christmas folklore, reindeer can't really fly. Shhhhh. The mythological reindeer that pull Santa Claus's sleigh first appeared in print during the nineteenth century in the United States. Real reindeer are found in Northern Europe, North America, and Siberia — although North American reindeer are more often called caribou. In Arctic and Subarctic areas, reindeer are regularly hunted and raised for their meat, milk, and hides. Reindeer comes from a Scandinavian root, similar to the Old Norse hreindyri.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reindeer reindeers

This would have served as an important feeding ground in the summer for animals such as mammoth, bison, horse, elk, and reindeer, and would have in turn drawn hunter gatherers toward the area.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

Evidence shows that reindeer and horses were already becoming more common in southern Britain around 15,500 years ago, shortly before the warming period.

From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026

They invited over 30 experts from around the world who cared about caribou—including Indigenous peoples, academics, zookeepers, and reindeer experts from Finland—to independently review the evidence for each assumption.

From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2026

Sámi reindeer herders carried leather coffee pouches into forests for generations.

From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2026

He finished his toilet, and when he sat down he disappeared under the reindeer moss.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

City Light did not specify if weather, everyday wildlife or reindeers tangled in power lines were to blame.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 25, 2023

"The farthest our reindeers have gone that I know is around 100km from our district," says Vili Kurki, 28, a herder from Muonio district of Finland.

From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2021

If reindeers are your favorite part of the holiday season, venture to this family-owned zoo that hosts drive-through safari rides by day.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2021

On Thursday, Salla’s Facebook page urged people to get acquainted with the Games’ dedicated mascot, a reindeer named Kesa — summer in Finnish - “and the other 10,000 reindeers in Salla.”

From Washington Times ● Jan. 28, 2021

The page at which he was looking showed a sleigh loaded with toys, with a team of reindeers and a jolly, fat, white-bearded, red-jacketed old man driving the sleigh over the chimney tops.

From The Girl in the Golden Atom by Cummings, Ray