Illustration of rhinoceros
rhinoceros
noun
rhi·noc·er·os rī-ˈnäs-rəs 
rə-,
-ˈnä-sə-
plural rhinoceroses also rhinoceros or rhinoceri rī-ˈnä-sə-ˌrī
rə-
: any of a family (Rhinocerotidae) of large heavyset herbivorous perissodactyl mammals of Africa and Asia that have one or two upright keratinous horns on the snout and thick gray to brown skin with little hair
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Pitt is showing off appear to include a rhinoceros illustration. 
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 19 July 2022 There are only five species of rhinoceros left in the world, and the Providence Zoo is out to help save them, according to their website. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 The rhinoceros population in Nepal also increased during the pandemic, growing by more than 100 between 2015 and 2021. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 22 May 2022 The West African black rhino was one of four subspecies of rhinoceros. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 21 Apr. 2022 Among the fossils were parts of a jaw bone from a brontothere, an animal similar to the modern-day rhinoceros. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Mar. 2022 Among the Turkish fossils were jaw fragments from Brontotheres, a mammal that resembled a large rhinoceros that died out at the end of the Eocene Epoch. NBC News, 26 Feb. 2022 For any ambitious ecotourists that dream of spotting an elephant, tiger, or rhinoceros in the pristine rural depths of India, read on to discover some of the country’s best destinations for wildlife tourism. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 29 Jan. 2022 While most see a rhinoceros, Hollant sees his son, who was diagnosed at a young age with neurofibromatosis. Susan Dunne, courant.com, 9 Dec. 2021 See More
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 19 July 2022 There are only five species of rhinoceros left in the world, and the Providence Zoo is out to help save them, according to their website. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 The rhinoceros population in Nepal also increased during the pandemic, growing by more than 100 between 2015 and 2021. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 22 May 2022 The West African black rhino was one of four subspecies of rhinoceros. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 21 Apr. 2022 Among the fossils were parts of a jaw bone from a brontothere, an animal similar to the modern-day rhinoceros. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Mar. 2022 Among the Turkish fossils were jaw fragments from Brontotheres, a mammal that resembled a large rhinoceros that died out at the end of the Eocene Epoch. NBC News, 26 Feb. 2022 For any ambitious ecotourists that dream of spotting an elephant, tiger, or rhinoceros in the pristine rural depths of India, read on to discover some of the country’s best destinations for wildlife tourism. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 29 Jan. 2022 While most see a rhinoceros, Hollant sees his son, who was diagnosed at a young age with neurofibromatosis. Susan Dunne, courant.com, 9 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English rinoceros, from Anglo-French, from Latin rhinocerot-, rhinoceros, from Greek rhinokerōt-, rhinokerōs, from rhin- + keras horn — more at horn
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing rhinoceros
Kids Definition
rhinoceros
noun
rhi·noc·er·os rī-ˈnä-sə-rəs
plural rhinoceroses also rhinoceros
: a large plant-eating mammal of Africa and Asia with short legs, thick gray to brown skin with little hair, and one or two heavy upright horns on the snout