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Definition of gnu

gnu

/nuː/
gnu
Plural:gnus
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gnu Lexical Profile

gnu Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large, dark African antelope of the genus Connochaetes, characterized by a long head, a beard and mane, and a sloping back; commonly known as a wildebeest.

Example

"During the Great Migration, millions of gnus travel across the Serengeti in search of fresh grazing land."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gnu

Word Nuance & Usage

The 'g' in 'gnu' is traditionally silent, making it a homophone of 'new' and 'knew'. It is synonymous with 'wildebeest'.

• Rhymes for gnu

• Nearby Words

gnaw
gnocchi
gnome
gnu
go
go-away-bird
goa

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into English in the late 18th century from Dutch 'gnoe' and French 'gnou', originally from a Khoisan language (likely Khoikhoi 'i-nu'), imitating the animal's grunting call.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gnu. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gnu
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