zoo

1 of 2

noun

ˈzü How to pronounce zoo (audio)
plural zoos
Synonyms of zoo
1
: a facility with usually indoor and outdoor settings where living, typically wild animals are kept especially for public exhibition

called also zoological garden, zoological park

2
: a place, situation, or group marked by crowding, confusion, or unrestrained behavior
The convention was a zoo.

zoo-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or before a vowel zo-
1
: animal : animal kingdom or kind
zooid
zoology
2
: motile
zoospore

Synonyms of zoo

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of zoo in a Sentence

Noun The sixth grade classroom was a zoo after recess. The supermarket was a real zoo on the night before the storm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In zoos and other human-care settings, some species appear to form long-lasting relationships with animals of other species. — Cyril Grueter, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026 And Farnaby, once again, had a small yet hilarious role cameo as a security guard, now stationed at a zoo. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 But Curious George, whose first standalone book follows a voyage from an African jungle to a New York City zoo, would not become the hero of his own story until the Reys underwent a perilous journey of their own. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 The zoo cut ties with Crutchfield, and Schultz retired from his position. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for zoo

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for zoological garden

Combining form

borrowed from Greek zōo-, zōio-, combining form from zôion "animal," derivative from the base of zṓō, zṓein (Homeric), zô, zên (Attic) "to be alive, live," going back to Indo-European *gwi̯éh3-(u)- "live" (whence also Tocharian B śāyau "[I] live"), full grade of a stem attested elsewhere with zero grade as *gwih3-u-, whence Latin vīvō, vīvere "to live," Old Church Slavic živǫ, žiti, Old Prussian giwa "(s/he) lives," Latvian dzīvu "(I) live," Sanskrit jīvati "(s/he) lives," Avestan juuaiti

Note: See also bio-, quick entry 1.

First Known Use

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of zoo was in 1835

Phrases Containing zoo

Rhymes for zoo

See All Rhymes for zoo

Browse Nearby Words

Zonuridae
zoo
zoo-
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zoo. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

zoo

noun
ˈzü How to pronounce zoo (audio)
plural zoos
: a garden or park where living usually wild animals are kept for showing to the public

More from Merriam-Webster on zoo

Nglish: Translation of zoo for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about zoo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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