animal

noun an·i·mal \ ˈa-nə-məl \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

Definition of animal

1 : any of a kingdom (Animalia) of living things including many-celled organisms and often many of the single-celled ones (such as protozoans) that typically differ from plants in having cells without cellulose walls, in lacking chlorophyll and the capacity for photosynthesis, in requiring more complex food materials (such as proteins), in being organized to a greater degree of complexity, and in having the capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor responses to stimulation

2 a : one of the lower animals (see ³lower 3) as distinguished from human beings

b : mammal; broadly : vertebrate

3 : a human being considered chiefly as physical or nonrational; also : this nature

4 : a person with a particular interest or aptitude

a political animal

He's a party animal.

5 : matter, thing

the theater … is an entirely different animal
—Arthur Miller

also : creature 1c

—

animallike

play \-mə(l)-ˌlīk\ adjective

See animal defined for English-language learners

See animal defined for kids

Examples of animal in a Sentence

the animals in the zoo
the plants and animals of the forest
She loves all kinds of animals.
Fish, birds, insects, reptiles, mammals, and human beings are all animals.
You're all behaving like a bunch of animals.

Recent Examples of animal from the Web

For most of mammalian evolutionary history, an animal’s size was not predictive of its extinction risk.

— jason g. goldman, Scientific American, "In 200 Years Cows May Be the Biggest Land Mammals on the Planet," 20 Apr. 2018
Organs found in a roadway Thursday in Hobart were determined to be from an animal, police said.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Hobart police respond to animal organs left in roadway," 20 Apr. 2018
That means the bovine skull is the earliest evidence of surgical experimentation on an animal.

— roni dengler, Science | AAAS, "Prehistoric humans may have practiced brain surgery on cows," 19 Apr. 2018
Insects mimic personality too, and while that is surely just the human observer imposing human traits on an animal that may not even have any meaningful consciousness, the impression is there all the same.

— jeffrey kluger, Time, "This New Movie Will Give You a New Love for Insects. Really.," 18 Apr. 2018
For a vet like Fincham-Gray, constantly moved to save an animal at whatever cost, price tags for treatment are a frustration.

— mark athitakis, USA TODAY, "For this vet, sometimes the owners are the most difficult patients: New book," 17 Apr. 2018
Many people believe that the amount of fur or hair that an animal has is what causes their allergy.

— kristen a. schmitt, Smithsonian, "There’s No Such Thing as a Hypoallergenic Cat," 17 Apr. 2018
But to risk your life to protect an animal or a park requires a degree of missionary zeal.

— tristan mcconnell, GQ, "The Bloody Toll of Congo's Elephant Wars," 16 Apr. 2018
But when an animal subject rebels, the whole shebang explodes into Earth’s atmosphere, dropping poisonous DNA canisters into a swamp (next to a croc), a prairie (by a wolf), and yes, into the gorilla enclosure at the San Diego Zoo.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Rampage Is a Big, Noisy Nothing," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'animal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Latin anima means “breath” or “soul,” and animalis, the adjective that comes from it, means “having breath or soul.” An animal such as a cat or dog can be seen to breathe. Plants breathe too, by taking in certain gases from the atmosphere and releasing others. However, this process cannot be observed by the naked eye. So the noun animal, which comes from animalis, was borrowed from Latin for that group of living beings that breathe visibly.

Origin and Etymology of animal

Latin, from animale, neuter of animalis animate, from anima soul — more at animate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

animal Synonyms

Synonyms

beast, beastie, brute, creature, critter;

Related Words

varmint, vermin;

biped, quadruped;

carnivore, herbivore, insectivore;

invertebrate, vertebrate;

domestic animal, pet;

livestock, stock;

Other Zoology Terms

altruism, integument

animal

adjective

Definition of animal

1 : of, relating to, resembling, or derived from animals

animal instincts

animal behavior

2 a : of or relating to the physical or sentient as contrasted with the intellectual or rational

b : sensual, fleshly

indulged his animal appetites

3 : of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops

—

animally

play \-mə-lē\ adverb

See animal defined for English-language learners

Examples of animal in a Sentence

several different plant and animal species
milk, meat, and other animal products
People were shocked by the animal brutality of the attack.

Recent Examples of animal from the Web

Now the most important question - who is *your* favorite Disney princess (and animal sidekick!) Tag a friend who’s into Disney!

— heather finn, Good Housekeeping, "This Baker Makes the Most Incredibly Intricate Pies You've Ever Seen," 2 Apr. 2018
Critics cite the lack of adequate preliminary and animal studies, the absence of published literature on the techniques and their outcomes, the unexplored ethical problems, and the circus-like atmosphere encouraged by Canavero.

— paul root wolpe, Vox, "A human head transplant would be reckless and ghastly. It’s time to talk about it.," 2 Apr. 2018
By Jörg Rüpke Princeton, 551 pages, $39.95 This picture of Roman religion as an eminently social phenomenon, structured around mass collective rituals (especially animal sacrifice), has a lot to recommend it.

— peter thonemann, WSJ, "‘Pantheon’ Review: The Divine in Daily Life," 23 Mar. 2018
At the University of Vermont my focus was animal science, with thoughts of becoming a veterinarian.

— perry garfinkel, New York Times, "Flying Abandoned Animals to Safer Havens," 22 Dec. 2017
For those with special diets Meat-free and animal-product-free entrees and appetizers are few at Firefly.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Firefly Kitchen and Bar: Southern comfort, ample beer menu," 20 Oct. 2017
But Allen believes the project has all sorts of implications for environmental DNA, the study of telltale plant and animal genetic materials collected from soil and other substrates.

— Smithsonian, "How (and Where) Did Hannibal Cross the Alps?," 29 July 2017
The other finalists are singer Evie Clair, dance group Diavolo, singer Chase Goehring, singer Angelica Hale, dance group Light Balance, singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne, singer Kechi and animal act Sara and Hero.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'AGT' finale: Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain to perform," 19 Sep. 2017
The amendment — which has drawn support from Louisville's Metro Council — would mirror laws already enforced by other states and could increase animal safety in a state that currently offers little protection for pets, McGarvey said.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Ever wanted to save a dog from a hot car? This law change could help you do that," 24 Oct. 2017

Origin and Etymology of animal

see ¹animal

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1581

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

animal Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of animal

carnal, fleshly, sensual, animal mean having a relation to the body. carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature.

- a slave to carnal desires

fleshly is less derogatory than carnal.

- a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations

sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual.

- fleshpots providing sensual delights

animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person.

- led a mindless animal existence

Other Zoology Terms

altruism, integument

ANIMAL Defined for English Language Learners

animal

noun

Definition of animal for English Language Learners

: a living thing that is not a human being or plant
: any living thing that is not a plant
: a person who behaves in a wild, aggressive, or unpleasant way

animal

adjective

Definition of animal for English Language Learners

: of or relating to animals
: coming from the bodies of animals
: of or relating to the body and not to the mind

ANIMAL Defined for Kids

animal

noun an·i·mal \ ˈa-nə-məl \

Definition of animal for Students

1 : any member of the kingdom of living things (as earthworms, crabs, birds, and people) that differ from plants typically in being able to move about, in not having cell walls made of cellulose, and in depending on plants and other animals as sources of food

2 : any of the animals lower than humans in the natural order

the animals in the zoo

3 : mammal

the birds and animals of the forest

Word Root of animal

The Latin word anima, meaning “breath” or “spirit,” gives us the root anim. Words from the Latin anima have something to do with having breath or spirit. An animal is a living creature that breathes and can move around on its own. To animate something is to give it breath or life. Someone magnanimous has a courageous spirit.

Medical Dictionary

animal

noun an·i·mal \ ˈan-ə-məl \

medical Definition of animal

1 : any of a kingdom (Animalia) of living things including many-celled organisms and often many of the single-celled ones (as protozoans) that typically differ from plants in having cells without cellulose walls, in lacking chlorophyll and the capacity for photosynthesis, in requiring more complex food materials (as proteins), in being organized to a greater degree of complexity, and in having the capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor response to stimulation

2 a : one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings

b : mammal; broadly : vertebrate

animal

adjective

medical Definition of animal

1 : of, relating to, or derived from animals

2 : of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops

Learn More about animal

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for animal Spanish Central: Translation of animal Nglish: Translation of animal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of animal for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up animal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

animal

Definition of animal

animallike

Examples of animal in a Sentence

Recent Examples of animal from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of animal

animal Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Zoology Terms

animal

Definition of animal

animally

Examples of animal in a Sentence

Recent Examples of animal from the Web

Origin and Etymology of animal

animal Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of animal

Other Zoology Terms

Phrases Related to ANIMAL

Related Phrases

ANIMAL Defined for English Language Learners

animal

Definition of animal for English Language Learners

animal

Definition of animal for English Language Learners

ANIMAL Defined for Kids

animal

Definition of animal for Students

Word Root of animal

Medical Dictionary

animal

medical Definition of animal

animal

medical Definition of animal

Learn More about animal

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

All the Hits

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes