Illustration of caribou
caribou
noun
car·i·bou
ˈker-ə-ˌbü 
ˈka-rə-
plural caribou or caribous
: a large gregarious deer (Rangifer tarandus) of Holarctic taiga and tundra that usually has palmate antlers in both sexes
—used especially for one of the New World
called also reindeer
Examples of caribou in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The miles of sedge and duvet-thick moss formed the basis of a feast for seasonal caribou, grizzlies, muskox, and roughly 200 bird species.
—
Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
The remaining four caribou scattered as the frantic cow skidded and staggered, trying to shake the clinging wolf.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
Sable Pass at Mile 39 is a top spot for grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
President's energy emergency draws more opposition In other news this week, 60 lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate condemned the Trump administration's plans to auction off land within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home of polar bears and caribou, to oil and gas companies.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 6 Mar. 2026
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Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
The remaining four caribou scattered as the frantic cow skidded and staggered, trying to shake the clinging wolf.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
Sable Pass at Mile 39 is a top spot for grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
President's energy emergency draws more opposition In other news this week, 60 lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate condemned the Trump administration's plans to auction off land within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home of polar bears and caribou, to oil and gas companies.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caribou
Cite this Entry
“Caribou.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caribou. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
caribou
noun
car·i·bou
ˈkar-ə-ˌbü
plural caribou or caribous
: a large animal of the deer family that is found in cold northern regions
—used especially for one of the New World
called also reindeer
Etymology
from Canadian French caribou "caribou," from Micmac (Indigenous language of northeastern Canada) γalipu
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