Pachyderm: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in scientific or formal contexts to refer to large, thick-skinned animals, especially elephants, rhinos, and hippos.

• The zoo's newest pachyderm is a young elephant named Tumbo.
• Conservation efforts for pachyderms are crucial due to their declining populations.

This is a broad, general term used in both everyday language and scientific contexts to describe animals of significant size, such as elephants, whales, and bears.

• The African savannah is home to many large mammals, including lions and giraffes.
• Studying large mammals like the grey whale provides insight into marine ecosystems.

Commonly used descriptively to emphasize the physical characteristic of an animal with notably thick skin, such as elephants or rhinos. It may also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is emotionally tough.

• The rhinoceros is a thick-skinned animal that can weigh up to two tons.
• She had developed the thick skin necessary to handle criticism in her line of work.