rhinoceros

American  

[rahy-nos-er-uhs] / raɪˈnɒs ər əs /

noun

• rhinoceroses,
  plural
• rhinoceros
  plural

1. any of several large, thick-skinned, perissodactyl mammals of the family Rhinocerotidae, of Africa and India, having one or two upright horns on the snout: all rhinoceroses are endangered.

2. Douay Bible. unicorn.

---

rhinoceros British  

/ raɪˈnɒsərəs, -ˈnɒsrəs /

noun

1. any of several perissodactyl mammals constituting the family Rhinocerotidae of SE Asia and Africa and having either one horn on the nose, like the Indian rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros unicornis ), or two horns, like the African white rhinoceros ( Diceros simus ) They have a very thick skin, massive body, and three digits on each foot

---

Usage

Plural word for rhinoceros The plural form of rhinoceros is rhinoceroses. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -s are also formed in this way, such as pass/passes, lotus/lotuses, and dress/dresses. In some words derived from Latin that end in -us, the irregular plural ending -i is used, as in fungus/fungi and cactus/cacti. Sometimes, for humorous effect or as an overcorrection, people apply the same kind of ending to rhinoceros (because it sounds like it ends in -us), as in rhinoceri. However, this is not a valid plural form of rhinoceros.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rhinocerotic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• rhinoceros
  plural
• rhinoceroses
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of rhinoceros

1300–50; Middle English rinoceros < Late Latin rhīnoceros < Greek rhīnókerōs, equivalent to rhīno- rhino- + -kerōs -horned, adj. derivative of kéras horn (of an animal)

---

Explanation

With its massive size, thick skin, and horned snout, the rhinoceros may look like a fearsome creature from a prehistoric world, but this powerful pachyderm is actually a herbivore found in Southeast Asia and Africa. Despite their tough and intimidating appearance, the diet of a rhinoceros consists primarily of grasses, leaves, and shoots rather than smaller animals. Sadly, the rhinoceros is an endangered animal due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. The rhinoceros plays a crucial role in its environment, contributing to the ecosystem by helping to shape the landscape with its grazing and promoting biodiversity with its presence.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rhinoceros rhinoceroses

In U.S. television, there’s a tendency to open every piece of sports programming with a clash of cymbals and a rhinoceros jumping through a flaming hoop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

“It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple,” he wrote in the essay.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

Airport authorities and police seized six pieces of rhinoceros horn and around 12 kilograms of unidentified meat used to conceal them inside a polystyrene icebox.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

It was the ninth Banksy to appear in as many days in London and follows images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas and a rhinoceros.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2024

Weighing up to a tonne, the Erumpent may be mistaken for a rhinoceros at a distance.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

The animals said to have been featured in various Roman spectacles include hippopotamuses, elephants, rhinoceroses, bears, ostriches and big cats like lions and tigers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2024

Indeed, not only is there enough diversity to allow rhinoceroses to be reproduced through cloning, but the samples from northern white rhinoceroses are actually more diverse than those of the southern white rhinoceroses.

From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2024

Managers in national parks should begin planning adaptations to manage the increased temperatures in the hopes of preserving a future for the rhinoceroses.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 17, 2024

Yes, Neandertal women were spearing woolly rhinoceroses, and Neandertal men were making clothing.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 17, 2023

Ironically, this fearlessness scared his father, and it was a constant source of worry for him, especially when they were hunting lions, elephants, and rhinoceroses in Africa together.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---