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elephant

A large mammal of the family in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia.

ˈɛl.ɪ.fəntCurrent128 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
3 definitions
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Seen in the wild
8 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

A large mammal of the family in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia.

Let's play hide and seek. I'll count. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant...
Origin: thumb|African bush elephant () thumb|Asian elephant () From , elefaunt, from , elefan, olifant, re-latinized in as elephant, from , from (gen. ἐλέφαντος). Believed to be derived from an form such as (compare , ) or . More at ivory. Replaced (from the aforementioned Old French form, from ), which replaced. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(figurative) Anything huge and ponderous.

Let's play hide and seek. I'll count. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant...
For parents

"elephant" means: Anything huge and ponderous.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"elephant" means: Anything huge and ponderous.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Heard in the wild
  • “🟡 Dumbo the Flying Elephant: 30 minutes (+20 min.)”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “♪ #nowplaying IDTYCLM - White Elephant (World elephant day - 2026) https://www.radiofrance.fr/fip”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “That is one big elephant (amongst the other ludicrous elements).”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK

(in particular) Any member of the subfamily Elephantinae not also of the genera and Primelephas.

Let's play hide and seek. I'll count. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant...
Heard in the wild
  • “Corporate profits - the massive elephant in the room”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “obama riding babar and using him to colonize elephant country”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Feed: "The Elephant's Trunk" By: Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬ on Tuesday, May 5, 2026”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Feed: "The Elephant's Trunk" By: Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬ on Monday, May 4, 2026”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “What happened to the giraffe and the elephant?”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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