animal
Pluralanimals
Pluralanimals
- 1A living creature that feeds on plants, other animals or their remains and can usually move, such as a mammal, bird, fish or insect; science includes humans, but everyday use usually does not.
Every animal in the reserve is tracked by researchers.
The documentary explored how desert animals survive extreme heat.
UsageCalling someone an animal can be a strong insult outside scientific discussion.
- 2Relating to animals or derived from them.
The factory processes animal fats into soap and candles.
Veterinarians specialize in animal health and disease.
Similarbestial
Oppositevegetable
Note
Strictly speaking, the adjective is a separate word. It comes from Latin animālis and entered English as an adjective in its own right, but it has merged so completely with the noun used before other nouns, as in animal life or animal and vegetal remains, that the two can no longer be told apart. Cowper's "I, who am merely animal" (1783) and Lady Login's "very animal in its instincts" (1890) push it toward the "raw, base" meaning.
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- The adjective entered English independently of the noun and derives from Latin animālis. en.wiktionary.org
- William Cowper wrote “I, who am merely animal” in 1783, in a letter dated June 3. gutenberg.org
- Lady Login used “very animal in its instincts” in Sir John Login and Duleep Singh, published in 1890. archive.org
- 3In everyday use, a mammal such as a dog, lion or whale, or more loosely another larger backboned creature, as distinct from insects, worms and other simple life; birds and fish are often left out.
We spotted dozens of birds on the hike but not a single animal, not even a squirrel.
My son sorted his toys into birds, fish, and animals, putting the whale beside the cow.
UsageOften set against birds and fish, as in animals and birds; say mammal when you need to be exact.
Note
The narrowest everyday use treats an animal as a mammal and counts birds separately. Gwen White's Antique Toys And Their Background (1971) finds birds "as popular as animals in the toy kingdom", and people speak of the animals and birds of an island. Under the scientific meaning a pigeon is an animal too, so this use belongs to ordinary speech, not biology.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Gwen White wrote Antique Toys and Their Background, first published in 1971. openlibrary.org
- The book describes birds as “as popular as animals in the toy kingdom”. en.wiktionary.org
- A pigeon belongs to the animal kingdom. en.wikipedia.org
Less common meanings
- 4A person who behaves wildly or cruelly, in a brutal or inhuman manner.
The dictator was an animal who showed no mercy to his enemies.
After the riot, neighbors described the looters as animals.
UsageA strong insult, as in behave like animals; people use it playfully of their own group, but it is risky aimed at others.
Note
Usually an insult, and a hard one, but it is not always aimed at others. Jodie White, speaking of English fans in 2024, says "we are animals" of her own side. Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy" (2019) turns the word into a role the singer offers to play in a game of seduction.
- 5A thing or matter of a particular kind, especially one seen as distinct from another.
Coaching professionals is a different animal from teaching beginners.
Live television and recorded shows are entirely different animals.
UsageMostly in set phrases: a different animal (from something), a whole different animal, and no such animal.
- 6Raw and basic, driven by instinct rather than social rules.
He attacked with an animal ferocity that shocked the onlookers.
The film captures the animal passion between the two characters.
UsageMost often before a noun, in phrases like animal instinct, animal passion and animal magnetism.
Similarwild, untamed, beastly, bestial, animalistic
- 7A person of a particular type, identified by a preceding adjective, as in 'party animal' or 'political animal.'
As a born party animal, she's the last one to leave the club every Saturday night.
The senator was a political animal who thrived on debate and strategy.
Similarcreature
- 8Extremely good; outstanding or impressive.
The band's final set was absolutely animal.
He said the new game is animal, the best release this year.
UsageWorks after a linking verb (that was animal) or before a noun (an animal gig).
Similaramazing, awesome, incredible, epic, sick
Note
Irish slang of approval, with nothing of the brute in it: a gig, a match or a night out can be animal. It simply means excellent, and a booster such as absolutely or totally can come before it. Unlike the "raw, instinctive" meaning, it says nothing about wildness, only that something was outstanding.
- 9Relating to the soul or life force, or to sensation and the nerves.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
This word came through Middle English and Old French from Latin animal, which was originally the adjective animālis used as a noun, from anima meaning "breath, spirit." It displaced the native English words deor (source of modern "deer") and reother.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 7 facts
- Animal came through Middle English and Old French from Latin animal. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin animal originated as a noun use of the adjective animālis, specifically its neuter form animāle. en.wiktionary.org
- Animālis derives from anima. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin anima means breath or spirit. en.wiktionary.org
- Animal displaced native deer in its general animal sense. en.wiktionary.org
- Deor is the ancestor of modern deer. en.wiktionary.org
- Animal also displaced native reother, a Middle English form of rother. en.wiktionary.org
This adjective came through Middle English from Latin animālis, from either anima ("breath, spirit") or animus. It was originally distinct from the noun but later merged with its attributive use.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- The adjective came through Middle English from Latin animālis. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin animālis derives from either anima, meaning breath or spirit, or animus. en.wiktionary.org
- The adjective was originally distinct from the noun and later merged with the noun's attributive use. en.wiktionary.org