hunter-gatherer

noun

hunt·​er-gath·​er·​er ˈhən-tər-ˈga-t͟hər-ər 

: a member of a culture in which food is obtained by hunting, fishing, and foraging rather than by agriculture or animal husbandry

Examples of hunter-gatherer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hunter-gatherer concept known for paleo bowls, nachos and its vegan queso serves bar-and-grill basics in a healthier form. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

His neighbors were the Khoisan, a group of Indigenous hunter-gatherer peoples of southern Africa, sometimes known as the San. — Stanley Stewart, Air Mail, 17 Oct. 2026

Equality arises from self-interest Our study also found that although hunter-gatherers are frequently generous, the processes limiting inequality often do not require any generosity. — Christopher Von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2026

While hunter-gatherers from that time are known to have used their teeth as tools — holding, breaking, stretching things — none of those uses matched the grooves on these teeth. — Pien Huang, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hunter-gatherer

• gatherer

Kids Definition

hunter-gatherer

noun

hunt·​er-gath·​er·​er

-ˈgat͟h-ər-ər, 

-ˈget͟h-

: a member of a culture in which food is gotten by hunting, fishing, and gathering rather than by agriculture