What does reindeer mean?
A reindeer is a large deer native to the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It is notable for its broad, often deeply branched antlers, which are grown by both males and females, and for its ability to migrate long distances across open tundra. Many reindeer are domesticated, especially by communities in northern Scandinavia and Russia, and are used for transport, meat, hides, milk, and pulling sledges. Wild populations are also found in Canada, Alaska, and parts of northern Eurasia. The plural is 'reindeer,' without an added suffix. In North American English, the same animal is often called a caribou. The word 'elk' can also mean reindeer in British and some European usage, although North Americans generally use elk for the wapiti, a different species of deer.
The reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, a large deer of northern Eurasia and North America, distinguished by the antlers grown by both sexes.
"Reindeer are well adapted to cold climates and long-distance seasonal migration."
The singular and plural are both 'reindeer'; a group is commonly called a 'herd.'
A domesticated reindeer kept for transport, sled pulling, meat, hides, milk, or other traditional uses.
"The family used reindeer to haul supplies across the snow."
This sense is especially associated with pastoral communities in northern Europe and Siberia.
The noun has the same singular and plural form: one reindeer, many reindeer.
"Hundreds of reindeer migrated past the observation site."
Unlike most deer, both male and female reindeer grow antlers—and the females keep theirs through much of the year.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reindeer come from?
The English word comes through Old Norse reindir, originally the plural of reindyr. Old Norse reindyr combined reinn, meaning 'roe' or 'reindeer,' with dýr, meaning 'animal,' and is cognate with forms such as German Rentier and Dutch rendier. The element related to roe also has relatives in English, including roe, roebuck, and rein.
How reindeer is actually used
The singular and plural forms are both 'reindeer.' The traditional collective noun is 'herd.' The term 'caribou' is especially common in North America, while 'elk' has a regional use for reindeer in Britain and parts of Europe but refers to the wapiti in much of North America.
Easily confused with reindeer
In North American English, elk usually means the wapiti, whereas in British English and some northern European languages it can mean reindeer.
Caribou is a common North American name for reindeer and usually refers to the same species rather than a different animal.