pack animal

noun

Synonyms of pack animalnext
: an animal used for carrying packs

Examples of pack animal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Like the Nazis in the closing stages of WWII, the Russians have found that shortages of vehicles and maintenance issues are making pack animals a practical alternative. David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026 The few visible trails had been kept open by the passage of wild donkeys descended from colonial-era pack animals. Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026 The long-distance trade is particularly impressive considering pre-Columbian North America’s only pack animal was the dog. Adam Crepelle, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2025 All this was built with only basic tools, pack animals and human muscle – the latter supplied by some 9,000 laborers, roughly one-quarter of whom were recent immigrants from Ireland. Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pack animal

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pack animal was in 1836

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pack animal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pack%20animal. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

pack animal

noun
: an animal (as a horse or donkey) used for carrying packs
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!