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
Hundreds of thousands of caribou travel through this scenic region, which lies above the Arctic Circle in the zone of northern lights activity.
—
Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
The pilot of the oil-crew helicopter had told us of valleys on the other side of a nearby mountain range that were overrun with big bull moose and caribou.
—Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Idaho is home to six animal species listed as endangered under federal law, including Kootenai River white sturgeon and southern mountain caribou.
—Idaho Statesman, 22 Apr. 2026
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
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Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
The pilot of the oil-crew helicopter had told us of valleys on the other side of a nearby mountain range that were overrun with big bull moose and caribou.
—Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
Idaho is home to six animal species listed as endangered under federal law, including Kootenai River white sturgeon and southern mountain caribou.
—Idaho Statesman, 22 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for caribou
Cite this Entry
“Caribou.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caribou. Accessed 21 May. 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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