In this article we are going to talk about nouns that start with Z. But before we go into the details of nouns starting with Z, let us first talk about the letter Z.
Z finishes up the alphabet at number 26. These days Z is the most rarely used letter in the alphabet; this is one of the reasons that the nouns that start with Z are very limited in number. However, American English uses it more often than British English.
Let us talk a little about the term noun. A noun is a word that serves as the name for a specific object or group of objects, such as live beings, places, acts, attributes, states of existence, or ideas.
All of the things in our world have been given a name, and that name tells us about the characteristics of that particular thing. As a result, learning that name will aid us in understanding that object in greater depth.
We have compiled for you an amazing list of nouns that start with Z that will surely intrigue you and hopefully you would have a pleasant experience of learning it. Let us now go through that list of nouns beginning with Z.
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Nouns That Start with Z You Always Use
Nouns are everywhere in our speech and writing. They form a large proportion of English vocabulary. Some of the nouns that start with Z that we use regularly are given below.
1. Zebra
- Definition: an African wild animal that looks like a horse, with black or brown and white lines on its body
- Synonyms: mountain zebra
- Example: I saw a zebra in the zoo.
2. Zoo
- Definition: an area in which animals, esp. wild animals, are kept so that people can go and look at them
- Synonyms: Wildlife Park
- Example: We went to the zoo for picnic.
3. Zone
- Definition: one of the areas into which a larger area is divided for a particular purpose
- Synonyms: area, sector
- Example: This stretch of coast has been designated a danger zone.
4. Zombie
- Definition: a dead person who is believed, in some Caribbean religions, to have been brought back to life by magic
- Synonyms: ghoul
- Example: Every horror fan is probably familiar with many zombie movies.
5. Zip
- Definition: energy or speed
- Synonyms: jazz, zing
- Example: The new engine has given the car a lot more zip.
6. Zigzag
- Definition: a line or pattern that looks like a Z or a row of Zs joined together
- Synonyms: oblique
- Example: The kids ran in zigzags around the playground.
7. Zoology
- Definition: the scientific study of animals, especially their structure
- Synonyms: entomology, naturalism
- Example: I am studying about insects in zoology.
8. Zero
- Definition: nothing; not anything
- Synonyms: null, nothing
- Example: Visibility in the fog was just about zero.
9. Zinc
- Definition: a blue-white metal used esp. in combination with other metals or for covering other metals to protect them
- Synonyms: metal, mineral
- Example: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
10. Zimbabwe
- Definition: a republic in southern Africa: a former British colony and part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: He was born in Zimbabwe where he completed his first degree in economics.
Nouns That Start with Z You Usually Use
You might find it useful to think of a noun as a naming word. Anything you see or feel, a particular name can be assigned to it. Following is a list of nouns starting with Z that we usually use in our day-to-day communications.
1. Zygote
- Definition: the cell that is formed when a female reproductive cell and a male reproductive cell join
- Synonyms: embryo, fertilized cell
- Example: Most zygote isolations were completed using cellulase and pectinase.
2. Zodiac
- Definition: a figure representing the signs of the zodiac and their symbols
- Synonyms: horoscope
- Example: What sign of the Zodiac were you born under?
3. Zipper
- Definition: a device consisting of two rows of metal
- Synonyms: lock, buckle
- Example: I can’t open my bag – the zipper is stuck.
4. Zinger
- Definition: a funny or clever remark
- Synonyms: one-liner, retort
- Example: Charlie’s humor gives him the ability to deliver a zinger.
5. Zenith
- Definition: the point in the sky directly above you
- Synonym: apex, pinnacle
- Example: The sun reaches its zenith at midday.
6. Zipline
- Definition: a long thick wire attached between two points, one higher than the other
- Synonyms: aerial runway, aerial ropeslide
- Example: I hit the end of the zipline and forgot to grab on to the end ropes quick enough.
7. Zap
- Definition: an electric shock or something similar
- Synonyms: jolt, shock
- Example: He received a zap as soon as he touched the live wire.
8. Zag
- Definition: a sharp change of direction in a zigzag course
- Synonyms: zig
- Example: We travelled in a series of zigs and zags.
9. Zionism
- Definition: political support for the creation and development of a Jewish homeland in Israel
- Synonyms: Jewish state
- Example: It is not appropriate to reopen the question of Zionism and racism.
10. Zapper
- Definition: a device for controlling a machine from a distance
- Synonyms: electric device
- Example: Use the zapper to turn off the TV.
Nouns That Start with Z You Often Use
Following are some of the nouns beginning with Z that we often make use of. Try and use these nouns that begin with the letter Z into your own phrases and sentences.
1. Zephyr
- Definition: a light wind
- Synonyms: breeze, light wind
- Example: So far it has only been a gentle zephyr.
2. Z-axis
- Definition: the axis in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates which is usually oriented vertically
- Synonyms: Z-plane
- Example: The research on driving system of Z-axis will be introduced in this paper.
3. Zebrafish
- Definition: the zebrafish is a freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family of the order Cypriniformes
- Synonyms: fish
- Example: They caught a zebrafish yesterday.
4. Zilch
- Definition: nothing; none
- Synonyms: nothing
- Example: “How many points did you score?” Zilch.
5. Zirconia
- Definition: zirconium dioxide, a white solid as a synthetic substitute for diamonds in jewelry
- Synonyms: gem, rock
- Example: Zirconia is used when the material must withstand extremely high temperatures.
6. Zanzibar
- Definition: city and port on the island of Zanzibar with a population of 223,033
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Our delegation flew to Zanzibar in June.
7. Zoning
- Definition: the act of deciding, or the decision that has been taken about, what particular use an area should have
- Synonyms: urban design
- Example: The town’s new zoning establishes a height limit of eight stories on any new building.
8. Zig
- Definition: a sharp change of direction in a zigzag course
- Synonyms: zag
- Example: Why are you moving in zigs and zags?
9. Zambia
- Definition: is a landlocked country of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife, with many parks and safari areas
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Have you ever been to Zambia before?
10. Zahedan
- Definition: the capital of Sistan va Balochistan province of Iran
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: A lot of Shi’ite Muslims were marching in the streets of the city of Zahedan behind a funeral cortege.
Nouns That Start with Z You Sometimes Use
These are some of the nouns that start with the letter Z that people only use sometimes in their everyday lives. Which one of these nouns do you make use of in your speech and writings?
1. Zhuhai
- Definition: a prefecture-level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province in China
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: They met a decade ago in Zhuhai.
2. Zakat
- Definition: an Islamic finance term referring to the obligation that an individual has to donate a certain proportion of wealth each year to charitable causes
- Synonyms: tithe
- Example: It is obligatory for Muslims to pay Zakat.
3. Zamboni
- Definition: a brand of machine that smooths the surface of the ice on a rink
- Synonyms: resurfacer
- Example: If you’ve ever ice skated at an indoor rink, you’ve probably seen a Zamboni.
4. Zine
- Definition: a small magazine that is produced cheaply by one person or a small group of people
- Synonyms: pamphlet, magazine
- Example: He is a reading a zine on cricket.
5. Zeitgeist
- Definition: the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time
- Synonyms: atmosphere
- Example: The story captured the zeitgeist of the late 1960s.
6. Zooplankton
- Definition: small floating or weakly swimming organisms that drift with water currents
- Synonyms: plankton
- Example: As zooplankton become more abundant and eat more phytoplankton, the population of phytoplankton should shrink.
7. Zoroastrianism
- Definition: a monotheistic pre-Islamic religion of ancient Persia founded by Zoroaster in the 6th century BC
- Synonyms: religion
- Example: In Zoroastrianism, the elements are sacred and the body is corrupt.
8. Zeaxanthin
- Definition: natural yellow pigment that occurs in corn, egg yolk and the human retina
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Lutein and zeaxanthin help promote sharp and detailed eye vision.
9. Zeppelin
- Definition: large aircraft held aloft by an envelope of lighter-than-air gas
- Synonyms: airship, blimp
- Example: The best airships were the giant Graf Zeppelin and the luxurious Hindenburg of the 1930s.
10. Zhoukou
- Definition: a major agricultural producer city in the province of Henan
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: He is taking his wife to Zhoukou tomorrow.
Nouns That Start with Z You Occasionally Use
You must be aware of this thing that some of the nouns are associated with special occasions, people and organizations, etc. We have prepared for you a list of nouns with letter Z that people occasionally use.
1. Ziggurat
- Definition: a Sumerian monument built of large stone steps
- Synonyms: monument
- Example: Only the king and priests could enter a ziggurat.
2. Zircon
- Definition: zirconium silicate, naturally occurring as a clear to brown crystal, can be refined into a gemstone
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: He is fobbing off the zircon as a diamond.
3. Zeolite
- Definition: any of a large group of minerals consisting of hydrated aluminosilicates of sodium, potassium, calcium, and barium
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Carbon, zeolite, and resins have a limited life.
4. Zeugma
- Definition: a figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses (e.g. John and his driving licence expired last week )
- Synonyms: figure of speech
- Example: Have you found any instance of zeugma in this poem?
5. Zamboorak
- Definition: a light swiveling gun, traditionally mounted on, and fired from the back of a camel
- Synonyms: gun
- Example: I heard that he owns a zamboorak.
6. Zoster
- Definition: zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area
- Synonyms: virus
- Example: He has caught zoster.
7. Z-score
- Definition: deviation from the mean (average) of a set of statistics
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: What is the z-score of these two variables?
8. Zhob
- Definition: formerly known as Fort Sandeman or Appozai, is a city and district capital of Zhob District in Balochistan, Pakistan
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Areas on the Pakistan side stretching north-eastwards along the border from Quetta to the town of Zhob are inhabited by Pashtun tribes.
9. Zefta
- Definition: an Egyptian town in the Nile delta, within the Gharbia governorate
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Pines Hostel is set in a beautiful pine forest near Zefta.
10. Zayat
- Definition: a public shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc.
- Synonyms: shed
- Example: Government has built several zayats in our area.
Nouns That Start with Z You Seldom Use
Let’s us now go through a list of noun words that start with Z. You might be seeing some of these noun words starting with Z for the very first time, so try to grasp as many as you can.
1. Zit
- Definition: a pimple, a spot on the skin
- Synonyms: blemish, blister
- Example: He got a zit on his face.
2. Zaratite
- Definition: Zaratite is a bright emerald green nickel carbonate mineral with formula Ni3CO3(OH)4·4H2O
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Zaratite is a rare secondary mineral formed by hydration or alteration of the primary nickel and iron bearing minerals,
3. Zarf
- Definition: a zarf is something that helps you hold a hot cup without burning your fingers.
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Don’t leave the coffee shop without your zarf!
4. Zenana
- Definition: (in India and Iran) the part of a house for the seclusion of women
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Women are bound to remain in the zenana in Iran.
5. Zoot
- Definition: man’s suit, popular in the 1930s and 1940s, with baggy high-waist trousers and padded shoulders
- Synonyms: zoot suit
- Example: In the Juke Box Joint, he had a zoot with Karloffian shoulders and a watch chain dangling between his knees.
6. Zanjan
- Definition: a city in northwest Iran, serving as the capital of Zanjan Province
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: Zanjan is known for its stainless and sharp knives.
7. Zantac
- Definition: a trademark for the drug ranitidine
- Synonyms: ranitidine
- Example: Taking Zantac does not automatically mean that you will contract eczema; it is merely something that you should be aware of.
8. Zerda
- Definition: a sweet dish usually made in Pakistan and India
- Synonyms: sweet
- Example: We made zerda for our guests.
9. Zibet
- Definition: a common Asiatic civet cat
- Synonyms: Viverra, zibetha
- Example: I heard that you own a zibet.
10. Ziega
- Definition: curd produced from milk by adding acetic acid, after rennet has ceased to cause coagulation
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: She was successful in producing ziega from the milk.
Positive Nouns That Start with Z
If you want to learn some positive words this category is just for you. Below is a list of positive nouns that start with Z.
1. Zing
- Definition: a quality that makes something interesting or exciting; enthusiasm or energy
- Synonyms: zest, gusto
- Example: We want to put more zing into our advertising.
2. Zest
- Definition: enthusiasm, eagerness, energy, and interest
- Synonyms: flavor, enthusiasm
- Example: It’s wonderful to see the children’s zest for life.
3. Zinfandel
- Definition: species of black grape, also the wines made from that grape
- Synonyms: primitivo, tribidrag
- Example: Enjoy our Zinfandel for its ample and full-flavored style.
4. Ziploc
- Definition: airtight seal on a plastic bag
- Synonyms: seal, lock
- Example: He folded together the last of the computer printouts and slipped them into a file bag lined with ziploc.
5. Ziti
- Definition: a type of tubular pasta
- Synonyms: manicotti, penne
- Example: My friend likes to eat ziti.
6. Zucchini
- Definition: edible cylindrical green gourd
- Synonyms: courgette
- Example: Just rinse off the zucchini and dry it.
7. Zawiya
- Definition: an Islamic religious school or monastery
- Synonyms: monastery
- Example: Zawiya is one of the leading preparatory institutes of the country.
8. Zareba
- Definition: (in Sudan and neighboring countries) a thorn fence fortifying a camp or village
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: They have built a zareba around the village.
9. Zagazig
- Definition: a city in Lower Egypt. Situated in the eastern part of the Nile delta
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: One of the largest governmental universities in Egypt with approximately 7000 faculty members is in Zagazig.
10. Zaffer
- Definition: cobalt oxide, formerly used to make smalt and blue enamels
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: He is synthesizing zaffer in the lab.
Nouns That Start with Z to Describe a Person
Following are some of the nouns that start with Z to describe a person and what he does. Try and memorize as many of these Z nouns as possible.
1. Zoologist
- Definition: a person who scientifically studies animals
- Synonyms: entomologist
- Example: Maria’s father is a zoologist.
2. Zookeeper
- Definition: a person who works in a zoo, taking care of the animals
- Synonyms: animal tender, zoologist
- Example: The zookeeper’s negligence caused the animal’s escape.
3. Zealot
- Definition: a person who has very strong opinions about something, and tries to make other people have them too
- Synonyms: enthusiast, fanatic
- Example: Mark is a religious zealot.
4. Zaphara
- Definition: one who sings (usually a female)
- Synonyms: singer, vocalist
- Example: Mona is a zaphra.
5. Zany
- Definition: one who acts the buffoon to amuse others
- Synonyms: comedian, joker
- Example: They hired a zany to entertain the children at the birthday party.
6. Zaptiah
- Definition: a Turkish police officer
- Synonyms: agent, officer
- Example: He was caught stealing by a zaptiah.
7. Zendik
- Definition: an unbeliever or atheist
- Synonyms: heretic
- Example: He is a Zendik.
8. Zeal
- Definition: great enthusiasm or eagerness
- Synonyms: passion, ardour
- Example: In his zeal to get his work finished on time, he made a lot of mistakes.
9. Zamindar
- Definition: a landlord required to pay a land tax to the government
- Synonyms: landlord
- Example: My grandfather was a zamindar.
10. Zaniness
- Definition: one who plays the clown or fool in order to amuse others
- Synonyms: humorousness, amusement
- Example: People tolerate Mark’s zaniness only because he is a celebrity.
Nouns That Start with Z – Full List (334 Words)
The list of nouns that start with Z give below contains all the nouns that we already discussed in detail above and some more for you to learn yourself.
- Zone
- Zen
- Zakat
- Zebu
- Zoetrope
- Zymologist
- Zionism
- Zygodactylae
- Zonule
- Zincography
- Zend
- Zephyr
- Zealotist
- Zircona
- Zeaxanthin
- Zorilla
- Zamite
- Zamindari
- Zambo
- Zest
- Zomboruk
- Zacco
- Zufolo
- Ze
- Zoopsychology
- Zumological
- Zygodactyl
- Zygobranchia
- Zoocytium
- Zoosporangium
- Zebec
- Zipper
- Zamindary
- Zirconia
- Zoot
- Zucchini
- Zipped
- Zander
- Zephyrus
- Zoomorphism
- Zaratite
- Zarf
- Zero
- Zizel
- Zoopathology
- Zythem
- Zumometer
- Zibet
- Zahedan
- Zoophilist
- Zaibatsu
- Zeugmatic
- Zamboorak
- Zea
- Zonulet
- Zoophite
- Zoodendrium
- Zapotilla
- Zoanthacea
- Zunyite
- Zygospore
- Zoonotic
- Zythum
- Zoogony
- Zauschneria
- Zimb
- Zoophyta
- Zymogen
- Zoologer
- Zimbabwe
- Zillionaire
- Zooid
- Zoogeny
- Zoochemy
- Zostera
- Ziega
- Zoantharian
- Zooids
- Zoography
- Zegedine
- Zodiacs
- Zoochemistry
- Zanyism
- Zingaro
- Zany
- Zaim
- Zalambdodont
- Zetetic
- Zubr
- Zaphrentis
- Zhob
- Zoonite
- Zoologist
- Zing
- Ziploc
- Zoophytology
- Zymogene
- Zonation
- Zeolite
- Zeta
- Zenith
- Zeriba
- Za
- Zamang
- Zocle
- Zeds
- Zinfandel
- Zoospore
- Zedoary
- Zymophyte
- Zokor
- Zulus
- Zumic
- Zemni
- Zillion
- Zantiot
- Zechstein
- Zeuglodonta
- Zumbooruk
- Zygosity
- Ziment-Water
- Zonaria
- Zanjan
- Zingel
- Zoomelanin
- Zipline
- Zagazig
- Zymase
- Zany
- Zilla
- Zabaism
- Zante
- Zoantharia
- Zootomy
- Zoroastrianism
- Zoographer
- Zygodactyle
- Zoide
- Zincane
- Zeylanite
- Zeal
- Zawiya
- Zaphara
- Zillah
- Zeitgeist
- Zoanthodeme
- Zwitterionic
- Zebra
- Zoogeographical
- Zoccolo
- Zoned
- Zobo
- Zemindari
- Z-Score
- Zymology
- Zend-Avesta
- Zoea
- Zain
- Zygosphene
- Zygapophysis
- Zwanziger
- Zoographist
- Zefta
- Zaptiah
- Zeus
- Zaimet
- Zantewood
- Zoopraxiscope
- Zehner
- Zope
- Zoos
- Zambia
- Zombies
- Zocco
- Zerda
- Zebrawood
- Zilch
- Zee
- Zarathustrism
- Zareba
- Zionist
- Zampogna
- Zion
- Zymose
- Zoogamy
- Zouave
- Zuisin
- Zyme
- Zati
- Zinnwaldite
- Zuche
- Zookeepers
- Zinkenite
- Zeugobranchiata
- Zeppelin
- Zooplankton
- Zenik
- Zoonoses
- Zoisite
- Zoroastrian
- Zooecium
- Zeugma
- Zinc
- Zyophyte
- Zoophorous
- Zoril
- Zemstvos
- Zoroastrism
- Zechin
- Zygenid
- Zoogloea
- Zoophily
- Zittern
- Zircon
- Zig
- Zinnia
- Zumology
- Zine
- Zarnich
- Zoon
- Zeolites
- Zap
- Zenanas
- Zonnar
- Zuchetto
- Zu/Is
- Zemstvo
- Zygosis
- Zhuhai
- Zoanthropy
- Zonar
- Zemindar
- Zylonite
- Zygoma
- Zabism
- Zizania
- Zoilism
- Zealotry
- Zit
- Zoophagan
- Zooerythrine
- Zydeco
- Zymosis
- Zona
- Ziggurat
- Zayat
- Zodiac
- Zoosperm
- Zeuzerian
- Zirconate
- Zollverein
- Zeuglodon
- Zookeeper
- Zoster
- Zosterops
- Zabian
- Zloty
- Zoolatry
- Zombie
- Zag
- Zax
- Zein
- Zachun
- Zoology
- Zymometer
- Zealotism
- Ziti
- Zootomist
- Zandmole
- Zincographer
- Zed
- Zeekoe
- Ziphioid
- Zoozoo
- Zoogeography
- Zither
- Zamia
- Z-Axis
- Zamboni
- Zoonomy
- Zoanthus
- Zygodactyli
- Zoo
- Zirconoid
- Zealant
- Zamouse
- Zigzag
- Zealot
- Zirconium
- Zonure
- Zaffer
- Zif
- Zarthe
- Zoning
- Zendik
- Zebub
- Zigzaggery
- Zymosimeter
- Zibeline
- Zapper
- Zequin
- Zopilote
- Zenick
- Zip
- Zythepsary
- Zoophaga
- Zaniness
- Zohar
- Zincite
- Zymome
- Zemindary
- Zhoukou
- Zygantrum
- Zaerthe
- Zenana
- Zoochlorella
- Zincode
- Zoocyst
- Zinsang
- Zibeth
- Zanzibar
- Zantac
- Zink
- Zygosperm
- Zoonule
- Zincide
- Zebrafish
- Zamindar
- Zircofluoride
- Zietrisikite
- Zabaglione
- Zinger
- Zygote
- Zincification
Final Thoughts on Nouns That Start with Z
Thank you for going through this article on nouns that start with Z and it is expected that it would have proved productive to you. By now you must have known that only a limited number of nouns starting with Z are commonly used in our everyday discussions.
Most of the nouns beginning with Z given above have been borrowed from other languages. For example “Zerda” is an Urdu word which refers to a sweet dish made of rice. This word has been borrowed by English and made one of its own. But, even for native English speakers it is difficult to learn these type of nouns.
From this article, you have learned 80 nouns that start with Z. If you know some more Z nouns yourself, add them to the list given above.
