hippo UK /ˈhɪpəʊ/US /ˈhɪpoʊ/ noun4 •(offensive, figurative) An overweight or obese person. •Clipping of hippopotamus.There was an old hippo that had the bad habit of getting out on the bank and roaming at night over the station grounds. — 1899 •(South-Africa, slang) An armored personnel carrier used by the South African Defence Force. •(informal) Hippopotamus Defence. formsHiPPOs · hippos