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Definition of red deer

red deer

Plural:red deer
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• noun

1

A large, widespread species of deer (Cervus elaphus) native to Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa, known for its reddish-brown summer coat and the large, branching antlers developed by the males.

Example

"We hiked quietly through the Scottish Highlands, hoping to catch a glimpse of a majestic red deer grazing in the morning mist."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for red deer

Word Nuance & Usage

In North America, the closely related species is typically called an elk or wapiti, whereas in Europe, the term 'elk' refers to the moose, making 'red deer' the standard and unambiguous English term for Cervus elaphus.

• Nearby Words

red
red campion
red coffee snake
red deer
red deer river
red devil cichlid
red diamond rattlesnake

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Red deer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/red-deer
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