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• zoo
  zoo

  noun

  a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.
• zoo-
  zoo-

  a combining form meaning “living being,” “animal,” used in the formation of compound words.

zoo

¹ American  

[zoo] / zu /

noun

• zoos
  plural

1. Also called zoological garden. a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.

2. Informal. a place, activity, or group marked by chaos or unrestrained behavior.

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zoo- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “living being,” “animal,” used in the formation of compound words.

   zoometry; zooplankton.

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zoo- ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating animals

   zooplankton

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zoo ² British  

/ zuː /

noun

1. Formal term: zoological garden. a place where live animals are kept, studied, bred, and exhibited to the public

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zoo Idioms  

1. see it's a zoo.

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Usage

What does zoo- mean? The combining form zoo- is used like a prefix meaning “living being” or "animal." It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form zoo- comes from Greek zôion, meaning “animal.”What are variants of zoo-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, zoo- becomes zo-, as in zooid. When combined as a suffix, zoo- becomes -zoa or -zoon, as in protozoa or ectozoon. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for zo-, -zoa, and -zoon.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• zoos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of zoo¹

First recorded in 1840–50; first two syllables of zoological garden taken as one syllable

Origin of zoo-²

Combining form representing Greek zôion animal

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Explanation

A zoo is a large park where wild animals are on display. If you're interested in lemurs, orangutans, or even boa constrictors, you might want to plan a trip to the zoo. Most modern zoos serve two functions: to exhibit exotic animals for paying visitors and to protect endangered animal species. Responsible zoos fulfill the second goal by breeding animals, educating the public, and reintroducing animals to the wild. Any wild and crowded place can also be called a zoo: "I went to the mall the day before Christmas. It was a total zoo!" The word zoo, from a Greek root that means "animal," was originally shorthand for the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens in London, which opened in 1828.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zoo zoo- zoos

Dozens of critically endangered tortoises were sent by a German commercial breeder to a defunct zoo in Togo, then to Belgium before arriving in India.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Nolan Busalacchi, founder of an independent record label and media company focused on Milwaukee-based artists, had helped Foenem make the zoo video for “Milwaukee County Zoo” that features him dancing on the grounds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Earlier this week, the president shared footage featuring the last moments of a man who was killed by a tiger in a U.K. zoo.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

Dr Campbell Murn, a previous member of the government's zoo expert committee and lecturer at the University of Reading, said while it was a tragic incident, determined people could get inside zoo enclosures.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Going to the pool and the zoo and the playground.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

But the coddled, zoo- happy monkeys lacked some basic skills -- how, for instance, to peel a banana.

From Time Magazine Archive

Only then do biologists foresee a successful return of zoo- bred California condors, perhaps even Molloko's offspring, to their native home.

From Time Magazine Archive

The numbers of pandas in U.S. zoos climbed through the mid-2010s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

He has also been fascinated by reptiles for most of his life and has long supported zoos, museums, and natural history.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

Leigh had previously approached about 30 zoos and museums for help with the project before the Museum of Chelmsford said they would lend a hand.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

The sanctuary’s mission is to conserve and protect the world’s wild cat populations and, sometimes, in partnership with zoos and other humane wildlife facilities, it breeds certain species.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

The final buyers were a number of zoos, mainly the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and the soon-to-open Minnesota Zoo, but odd animals were going to Los Angeles, Louisville, Oklahoma City and Cincinnati.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

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