What does JUMBO mean?

Dictionary Entry: Jumbo Part of Speech

Noun, Adjective

Definition

As a noun, jumbo refers to a large elephant or a very large object or person. As an adjective, it means very large or of great size.

Pronunciations

US: /ˈdʒʌmboʊ/

UK: /ˈdʒʌmbəʊ/

Origin and Usage

The word jumbo originated in the 19th century from the name of an elephant that was exhibited in the London Zoo. The elephant was named Jumbo, which was a variation of the Swahili word jambo, meaning hello. The word jumbo became popular to describe anything that was unusually large or gigantic. Today, the word is commonly used to describe large objects or animals, such as jumbo jets or jumbo shrimp.

Synonyms

Large, gigantic, huge, massive, mammoth, colossal, immense, big, oversized, giant

Related Words

Elephant, giant, mambo, whamo

Example Sentences

• As a noun: The circus had a jumbo elephant that was a crowd favorite.
• As an adjective: The restaurant served a jumbo-sized burger that was too big to finish.