Illustration of okapi
: an African ungulate mammal (Okapia johnstoni) that is closely related to the giraffe but has a relatively short neck, a coat typically of solid reddish chestnut on the trunk, yellowish white on the cheeks, and purplish-black and cream rings on the upper parts of the legs
Examples of okapi in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The calf and his mother are now spending time together on habitat, though sightings are not guaranteed, as okapi are generally shy animals.
—
Daniel Hunt
january 16,
Sacbee.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Like their giraffe cousins, okapi have a long tongue used for stripping leaves from trees, according to National Geographic.
—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
While the East African nation of Uganda is home to a wealth of iconic creatures spanning from the forest elephant to the sitatunga to the okapi, few native animals can match the intrigue of the eastern chimpanzee.
—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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Daniel Hunt
january 16,
Sacbee.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Like their giraffe cousins, okapi have a long tongue used for stripping leaves from trees, according to National Geographic.
—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
While the East African nation of Uganda is home to a wealth of iconic creatures spanning from the forest elephant to the sitatunga to the okapi, few native animals can match the intrigue of the eastern chimpanzee.
—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for okapi
Cite this Entry
“Okapi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/okapi. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
okapi
noun
oka·pi
ō-ˈkäp-ē 
: an African mammal closely related to the giraffe but lacking the long neck
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