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Definition of white rhinoceros

white rhinoceros

Plural:white rhinoceroses
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• noun

1

A large herbivorous mammal (Ceratotherium simum) native to southern and central Africa, characterized by a massive body, two keratin horns on its snout, and a broad, square muzzle adapted for grazing on grasses.

Example

"Conservationists have worked tirelessly to protect the remaining populations of the southern white rhinoceros from aggressive poaching."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for white rhinoceros

Word Nuance & Usage

The modifier 'white' does not accurately describe the animal's color; it is widely believed to be an English mistranslation of the Dutch word 'wijd' (wide), which refers to its broad, square muzzle that distinguishes it from the pointed-lipped 'black' rhinoceros.

• Nearby Words

white perch
white pine
white plains
white rhinoceros
white river
white rock
white settlement

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of White rhinoceros. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/white-rhinoceros
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