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Definition of oribi

oribi

/ˈɔːr.ə.bi/
o · ri · bi
Plural:oribis
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oribi Lexical Profile

oribi Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, graceful African antelope (Ourebia ourebi) characterized by a tan to reddish-brown coat, white underparts, a short black tail, and prominent ears, typically inhabiting grasslands and savannas.

Example

"While exploring the floodplains, the wildlife biologist noted the presence of an oribi bounding gracefully through the tall grass."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for oribi

• Nearby Words

orgasmic
orgasmically
orgy
oribi
orient
oriental
oriental lily

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans 'oorbietjie', which likely derives from a Khoisan word, though historically altered by folk etymology associating it with Dutch 'oor' (ear) and 'bietjie' (little) due to the antelope's prominent ears.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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