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Definition of okapi

okapi

/oʊˈkɑːpi/
o · ka · pi
Plural:okapis
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okapi Lexical Profile

okapi Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large, elusive herbivorous mammal (Okapia johnstoni) belonging to the giraffe family, native exclusively to the dense canopy forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, characterized by a dark chestnut-brown body, a long prehensile tongue, and distinct zebra-like horizontal white stripes on its legs and hindquarters.

Example

"During our visit to the wildlife conservation center, we were fortunate enough to observe an okapi silently browsing for leaves among the dense foliage."

• Rhymes for okapi

• Nearby Words

ok
oka
okanogan
okapi
okavango
okay
okeydoke

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into English in the early 20th century from Mbuba (a Central Sudanic language) 'o'kapi', the indigenous name for the animal in the Ituri Rainforest of Central Africa.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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