llama

noun

lla·​ma ˈlä-mə How to pronounce llama (audio) ˈyä-mə How to pronounce llama (audio)
: any of a genus (Lama) of wild or domesticated, long-necked, South American ruminant (see ruminant entry 1) mammals related to the camels but smaller and without a hump
especially : a domesticated llama (L. glama) descended from the guanaco and used especially in the Andes as a pack animal and a source of wool

Illustration of llama

Illustration of llama

Examples of llama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the pre-event expo, attendees visited tables, snapped selfies with Kaiser Permanente’s emotional support llamas, and got up to date on vaccines from Kroger Health Pharmacies. — Kiersten Willis, AJC.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Wild guanacos—llama-like camelids with dark-red fur—darted across the road. — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 As for shopping, count on independent stores within a stone's throw (like Tarwi, which stocks local brands known for their llama and alpaca knits, on the tiny cobblestoned street south of the hotel). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Some of these spaces were inhabited by horses or llamas, but many were just sown with Kentucky blue grass that was carefully cut every weekend. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for llama

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of llama was in 1600

Rhymes for llama

See All Rhymes for llama

Browse Nearby Words

LL
llama
Llanberis
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Cite this Entry

“Llama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/llama. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

llama

noun
lla·​ma ˈläm-ə How to pronounce llama (audio)
: any of several wild and domesticated long-necked South American hoofed mammals that chew the cud and are related to the camels but smaller and without a hump

More from Merriam-Webster on llama

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about llama

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