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Synonyms

zookeeper

American  
[zoo-kee-per] / ˈzuˌki pər /

noun

  1. a person who feeds and tends animals in a zoo.

Other Word Forms

  • zookeeping noun

Etymology

Origin of zookeeper

First recorded in 1920–25; zoo + keeper

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The zookeeper and the actor set off sparks, winning the relay against Earle and Season 33 champ Joey Graziadei of “The Bachelor” fame.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

Everything begins to change for Camille when a new zookeeper, Sailor, arrives on the island.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2025

“She’s become a bit of a national treasure,” one zookeeper said.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2025

He described the incident as unfortunate, while paying tribute to the deceased zookeeper as a "good and humble man, who attended to us nicely whenever we went to the zoo".

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2024

“He’s a zookeeper threatened with death. Why would he lie?”

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.