zookeeper

noun

zoo·​keep·​er ˈzü-ˌkē-pər How to pronounce zookeeper (audio)
: one who maintains or cares for animals in a zoo

Examples of zookeeper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The video shows the gorilla, Elmo, being released back into his enclosure at the Fort Worth Zoo, where two zookeepers were actively working. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 The zookeeper quickly looked for help and as Alaska Airlines flight attendant Amber May approached, the passenger made an unusual request. Christina Maxouris, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024 Now, two years later, the former Oklahoma zookeeper is enlisting Kardashian Barker's sister's help through social media for an early prison release. Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024 One case involved a zookeeper who was bitten by a Komodo dragon. Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 But to the zookeeper, their bond was a reminder for humans to pay a little more attention to their cohabitants on Earth. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2024 The plan was simple: a Woodland Park zookeeper would transport the six eggs from Atlanta to Seattle on a roughly six-hour flight, using a portable incubator to keep the eggs warm. Christina Maxouris, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024 The zookeeper and son of the late Steve Irwin, 20, and Buckey, 19, announced their breakup in posts shared on their respective Instagram accounts on Friday. Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024 This time, rather than keeping them separate, zookeepers have decided to muffle the swearing by placing them with a larger flock. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zookeeper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zookeeper was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near zookeeper

Cite this Entry

“Zookeeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zookeeper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

zookeeper

noun
zoo·​keep·​er -ˌkē-pər How to pronounce zookeeper (audio)
: a person who keeps or cares for animals in a zoo
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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