Animal
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈæn.ɪ.məl/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Animal is a noun meaning (loosely) Any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.
Meaning
(loosely) Any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.
More Meanings
- (loosely) A higher animal; an animal related to humans.
- (figuratively) A person who behaves wildly; a bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, or inhuman person.
- (informal) A person of a particular type specified by an adjective.
- (informal) Matter, thing.
- Of or relating to animals.
- Raw, base, unhindered by social codes.
- (sciences) A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia that is usually mobile, with cells that are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing them from plants and fungi) and derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms.
Example Sentences
Near-synonym: critter
My students are animals.
He's a political animal.
Own me, I'll let you play the role I'll be your animal
Word Forms
- animals
Synonyms for animal
Depending on context, synonyms include beast, beastie, creature, critter, deer, brute.
Antonyms for animal
Common opposites include mineral.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include fauna, creature, fishlike, beast, fleshly, carnal.
Related Dictionary Tools
Practice “animal” in a Crossword
Recall this definition from a clue, use crossing letters, and review the word again when you solve it.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.