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 lower entry 3 sense 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
Arthur Miller
also
: creature sense 1c
1
: of, relating to, resembling, or derived from animals
animal instincts
animal behavior
2
3
: of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops
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.
Synonyms
Examples of animal in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Adjective
several different plant and animal species
milk, meat, and other animal products
People were shocked by the animal brutality of the attack.
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Recent Examples on the WebCharlotte Hu, Popular Science, 14 Sep. 2023
The Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak of illness among pig farmers and others in close contact with the animals in Malaysia and Singapore.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2023
The animals had either been killed by Russian troops or had died of starvation, according to the Independent.
—Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
Show your toddler each page, name the animal, and make its sound.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
The lake is going to drain through the Rocky River over weeks or months so the animals have time to find new homes.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023
Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned over the number of dead whales, an animal that provides a lens into the general condition of the ocean and the beings that reside there, Chris Robbins, associate director of science for Ocean Conservancy, an environmental nonprofit, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023
While diners are probably most familiar with lobster tails and claws, the other parts of the animal are also useful.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023
But a recent deluge caused a local lake to overflow, allowing the animals to escape.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023
Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2023
Smoothies are an easy way to incorporate more non-animal protein into your diet.
—Amy Stanford, Health, 27 Mar. 2023
But momentum is building for non-animal approaches, which could ultimately help speed drug development, improve patient outcomes and reduce the burdens borne by lab animals, experts said.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023
Nature friendly and environmentally friendly products are readily accepted by the sophisticated consumer who is searching for products that are non-animal.
—Walter Loeb, Forbes, 10 June 2022
Yiannas' notice comes less than a week before Califf is expected to release a response to a scathing report calling for an overhaul of the way the agency regulates human and animal foods.
—Jonel Aleccia, ajc, 25 Jan. 2023
The effects wouldn't be seen just in animal life—wildebeests help to maintain the grassland ecosystem, too.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2010
The lawsuit is likely to put the spotlight on the explosive growth of plastics pollution, which scientists say is affecting air and water quality, global warming, as well as human and animal life.
—Catherine Porter, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2023
Hypercarnivores — such as polar bears, gray wolves and Arctic foxes — are typical predators in the Arctic, where there are few non-animal food sources, especially during winter.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2014
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Noun
Microchips, on the other hand, contain unique ID numbers for the animals, but the chips need to be read with special scanners.
—Charlotte Hu, Popular Science, 14 Sep. 2023
The Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak of illness among pig farmers and others in close contact with the animals in Malaysia and Singapore.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2023
The animals had either been killed by Russian troops or had died of starvation, according to the Independent.
—Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
Show your toddler each page, name the animal, and make its sound.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
The lake is going to drain through the Rocky River over weeks or months so the animals have time to find new homes.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023
Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned over the number of dead whales, an animal that provides a lens into the general condition of the ocean and the beings that reside there, Chris Robbins, associate director of science for Ocean Conservancy, an environmental nonprofit, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023
While diners are probably most familiar with lobster tails and claws, the other parts of the animal are also useful.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2023
But a recent deluge caused a local lake to overflow, allowing the animals to escape.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Animal lovers will enjoy horseback riding or visiting one of the area’s animal sanctuaries.
—Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2023
Smoothies are an easy way to incorporate more non-animal protein into your diet.
—Amy Stanford, Health, 27 Mar. 2023
But momentum is building for non-animal approaches, which could ultimately help speed drug development, improve patient outcomes and reduce the burdens borne by lab animals, experts said.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023
Nature friendly and environmentally friendly products are readily accepted by the sophisticated consumer who is searching for products that are non-animal.
—Walter Loeb, Forbes, 10 June 2022
Yiannas' notice comes less than a week before Califf is expected to release a response to a scathing report calling for an overhaul of the way the agency regulates human and animal foods.
—Jonel Aleccia, ajc, 25 Jan. 2023
The effects wouldn't be seen just in animal life—wildebeests help to maintain the grassland ecosystem, too.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2010
The lawsuit is likely to put the spotlight on the explosive growth of plastics pollution, which scientists say is affecting air and water quality, global warming, as well as human and animal life.
—Catherine Porter, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2023
Hypercarnivores — such as polar bears, gray wolves and Arctic foxes — are typical predators in the Arctic, where there are few non-animal food sources, especially during winter.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2014
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'animal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing animal
Articles Related to animal
Dictionary Entries Near animal
Cite this Entry
“Animal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
animal
1 of 2 noun
an·i·mal
ˈan-ə-məl 
1
: any of a kingdom of living things composed of many cells typically differing from plants in capacity for active movement, in rapid response to stimulation, in being unable to carry on photosynthesis, and in lack of cellulose cell walls
2
a
: one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
b
: mammal
animal
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, relating to, or derived from animals
2
: of or relating to the body rather than the mind
Etymology
Noun
from Latin animal "living being that can move," derived from animalis "animate," from anima "soul, breath" — related to animate see Word History at animate
Word Origin
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.
Medical Definition
animal
1 of 2 noun
an·i·mal
ˈan-ə-məl
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
2 of 2 adjective1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on animal
Nglish: Translation of animal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of animal for Arabic Speakers
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