Meanings
plural wildebeests · plural rare wildebeesten
- biologyThe gnu.
A group of wildebeest is called a confusion.
2019 June 6, “A gaggle, a confusion and a conspiracy - bizarre animal collective group names”, in BBC2 more examples
Dassoud […] stepped forward with a lash composed of the caudal appendages of half a dozen wildebeests.
1982, TC Boyle, Water Music, Penguin, published 2006, page 3Later that morning, they wrapped Ian in a wildebeest skin and buried him near a shepherd tree.
2013, Eleanor Morse, White Dog Fell From the SkySynonyms: gnu
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe gnu.
More synonyms by meaning
nounlarge African antelope having a head with horns like an ox and a long tufted tail
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Afrikaanswildebeest
- Englishwildebeest
Borrowed in the early 19th century from early Afrikaans wildebeest, modern wildebees (literally “wild ox”), with influence from beast.
More words from Afrikaans
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
wildebeest. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wildebeest
“wildebeest.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wildebeest. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wildebeest,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wildebeest.
Source: wildebeest on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.