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reindeer vs. deer

reindeer vs. deer: What's the difference?

A reindeer is one of many types of deer. Deer are ruminants, especially smaller ones, with the males usually having seasonal antlers. Reindeer, also referred to as caribou when not domesticated, only live in far northern and Arctic regions, and both males and females have seasonal antlers.

reindeer

[ reyn-deer ]
noun,
  1. any of several large deer of the genus Rangifer, of northern and Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, both male and female of which have antlers.

deer

[ deer ]
noun,
  1. any of several ruminants of the family Cervidae, most of the males of which have solid, deciduous antlers.
  2. any of the smaller species of this family, as distinguished from the moose, elk, etc.