animal

1 of 2

noun

an·​i·​mal ˈa-nə-məl 

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

also : creature sense 1c

animallike

ˈa-nə-mə(l)-ˌlīk 

adjective

animal

2 of 2

adjective

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

ˈa-nə-mə-lē 

adverb

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

Noun

• beast
• beastie
• brute
• creature
• critter

Adjective

• bodily
• carnal
• corporal
• corporeal
• fleshly
• material
• physical
• somatic

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

gave in 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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Nocturnal animals were active, and diurnal animals were calm. —Kathryn Fink, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024

The next morning, around 9 a.m., Murena's wife discovered the animal still bleeding and in discomfort. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024

That fluid interoperability makes animals greater than the sum of their individual parts. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2024

When freeways are built through their natural habitats, animals often end up suffering—and so do humans on the road. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024

The reason why certain animals urinate in jets while others urinate in droplets can be explained by two concepts from fluid mechanics: Weber and Bond numbers. —USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

In the previous pig organ transplants in living patients, the animals had more modifications. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024

Wild animals, no matter the species, can also be noisy, dirty, and sometimes diseased. —Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 23 Apr. 2024

Cadaver dogs, according to the search warrant, are trained to ignore live human and animal scents, and only indicate human remains. —Jordan Kinsey, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing animal

• animal control
• animal cracker
• animal heat
• animal husbandry
• animal kingdom
• animal magnetism
• animal model
• animal pole
• animal rights
• animal spirit
• animal spirits
• animal starch
• different animal
• domestic animal
• moss animal
• no such animal
• pack animal
• party animal
• political animal
• put (an animal) off the/someone's scent
• put (an animal) out of its misery
• service animal
• social animal
• spirit animal
• stuffed animal
• the human animal
• wheel animal

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 adjective

1

: 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 adjective

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