Added 3 October 2026
animal
/ˈænɪməl/ noun
In Latin: animal, bestia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about animal at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
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.
Humans, like other animals, need air to breathe and food to eat.
- Any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.
-
A higher animal; an animal related to humans.
When he's hungry my toddler opens his mouth like an animal instead of asking us to feed him.
adjective
-
Of or relating to animals.
animal instincts
-
Raw, base, unhindered by social codes.
animal passions
- Pertaining to the spirit or soul; relating to sensation or innervation.
Origin
From Middle English animal, from Old French animal, from Latin animal, a nominal use of the adjective form animāle, neuter of animālis, from anima (“breath, spirit”). Displaced native English deer (outside puristic usage) in the general animal sense, from Middle English der, deor (“animal”), from Old English dēor, related to German Tier (“animal”), Dutch dier, Danish dyr, Swedish djur etc. Displaced also rother (“horned animal, esp. ox”, now obsolete), from Middle English rother, reother (“a bovine”), from Old English hrīþer, hrȳþer.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)