ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Featured Games Cultural Writing tips Dictionary.com Thesaurus.com Definition Etymology Examples Trivia Time Which author is widely credited for giving us the idea of the elephant in the room? Test Your Knowledge elephant in the room American   [el-uh-fuhnt in thuh room, room] / ˈɛl ə fənt ɪn ðə ˈrum, ˈrʊm / idiom a problem or issue that everyone is aware of but that no one wants to talk about. Her dad’s depression has been the elephant in the room at family gatherings. Etymology Origin of elephant in the room First recorded in 1935–40 Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. See Examples For: elephant in the room Why do so few people talk about the elephant in the room? From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026 When it comes to sharing his music, especially the more vulnerable tracks, Wolfhard knows his “Stranger Things” fame is the elephant in the room. From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026 On Monday, the climate-vulnerable Alliance of Small Island States said countries could not keep ignoring "the elephant in the room" and warned that anything short of winding down fossil fuels was "papering over the cracks". From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026 Perhaps universities will address the elephant in the room: Student cheating is rampant, and it is the fault of the faculty. From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026 I want us to have history, something longer than the small window of time we’re actually sharing, with an even longer future, but the dying elephant in the room crushes me. From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Word of the Day conspectus [kuhn-spek-tuhs] Get the Word of the Day Over 500,000 expert-authored dictionary and thesaurus entries Entry list Careers Contact us Help Cookies, terms & privacy IXL Learning's Dictionary Media Group reaches over 500,000,000 learners each year Essential reference for synonyms and antonyms Adaptive learning for English vocabulary Fun daily word games English dictionary and learning for Spanish speakers Spanish-English dictionary, translator, and learning French-English dictionary, translator, and learning Immersive learning for 25 languages Comprehensive K-12 personalized learning Marketplace for millions of educator-created resources 35,000+ worksheets, games, and lesson plans Fun educational games for kids Trusted tutors for 300+ subjects Math games and learning resources for kids © 2026 Dictionary Media Group, Inc., a division of IXL Learning by dictionary.com Dictionary.com's Learning Companion Go beyond just looking up words. Remember them forever with VocabTrainer. Start training