pachyderm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical (Zoology), Literary
Quick answer
What does “pachyderm” mean?
A thick-skinned mammal, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick-skinned mammal, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.
A person who is insensitive or thick-skinned to criticism or emotional stimuli. In zoology, a historical term for nonruminant ungulates with thick skin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British natural history writing due to colonial-era texts.
Connotations
Both varieties share connotations of formality and old-fashioned zoological classification. The figurative use is equally possible in both.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but marginally higher in AmE due to the influence of circus and carnival history ('pachyderm tent').
Grammar
How to Use “pachyderm” in a Sentence
[be] a pachyderm[describe/classify] X as a pachydermthe pachyderm [verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pachyderm” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The pachydermous hide was nearly impervious to thorns.
American English
- The pachydermatous skin protected it from insect bites.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could appear metaphorically: 'He's a pachyderm when it comes to market feedback.'
Academic
Used in historical zoology texts or evolutionary biology discussing perissodactyls.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Known as a 'fancy word for elephant'.
Technical
Obsolete in modern zoological taxonomy. Still understood in veterinary or zoo management contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pachyderm”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pachyderm”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pachyderm”
- Mispronunciation: /pæˈtʃaɪ.dɝːm/. Misuse as a general term for any large animal (e.g., bear, whale).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was a common term in 19th and early 20th-century zoology but is now considered obsolete in formal taxonomy. Modern biology uses more specific orders like Proboscidea (elephants) and Perissodactyla (rhinos, tapirs).
It would sound very formal, literary, or deliberately humorous. In most contexts, simply naming the animal (e.g., 'elephant') is more natural and clear.
The primary adjective is 'pachydermatous', meaning having thick skin, either literally or figuratively. 'Pachydermal' and 'pachydermous' are also possible but less common.
Historically, 'pachyderm' was a loose grouping for large, thick-skinned, non-ruminant hoofed animals. Hippos fit this descriptive category, though they are evolutionarily closer to whales than to elephants or rhinos.
A thick-skinned mammal, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.
Pachyderm is usually formal, technical (zoology), literary in register.
Pachyderm: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpæk.ɪ.dɜːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpæk.ə.dɝːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “thick as a pachyderm's hide (figurative, for insensitivity)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PACHYderm = PACHY (thick, as in 'pachydermia' - thick skin) + DERM (skin, as in 'dermatology'). A thick-skinned animal.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSENSITIVITY IS THICK SKIN → A person insensitive to criticism is a pachyderm.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT typically considered a pachyderm?