creature

noun

crea·​ture ˈkrē-chər 

1

: something created either animate or inanimate: such as

a

: an animal that is not a human being

wild creatures of the forest

b

: a human being

He's a social creature.

The poor creature has had a hard life.

I'm a creature of habit; I like my routine.

c

: a being of anomalous or uncertain aspect or nature

creatures of fantasy

2

: one that is the servile dependent or tool of another : instrument

creatural

ˈkrē-chə-rəl 

adjective

creaturehood

ˈkrē-chər-ˌhu̇d 

noun

creatureliness

ˈkrē-chər-lē-nəs 

noun

creaturely

ˈkrē-chər-lē 

adjective

Synonyms of creature

• animal

Examples of creature in a Sentence

rabbits, squirrels, and other furry creatures

Few living creatures can survive without water.

a giant hairy apelike creature

She's a creature of rare beauty.

A social creature by nature, he loves working with people.

The poor creature had no way to get home.

Recent Examples on the Web

Featuring a cast of creatures from ravens to coyotes, the record is slyly immersive without calling too much attention to Meiburg’s sylvan collaborators. — David Harris, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026

Cyborg insects use the creature’s own muscles to move, so such hybrids consume less power than small artificial robots used for similar purposes. — ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

The 2026 report from World Population Review revealed a surprising mix of creatures topping the list, from large mammals such as moose to unexpected threats such as dogs and jellyfish. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Fast-forward from the lair of a mythical creature to the feeds of Gen-Z influencers and tangy, curd-y cheese is still having a moment. — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin creātūra "act of bringing into being, something brought into being," from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to beget, give birth to, create entry 1" + -ūra

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing creature

• creature comfort

Rhymes for creature

• bleacher
• feature
• preacher
• reacher
• teacher
• schoolteacher

Kids Definition

creature

noun

crea·​ture ˈkrē-chər 

1

: a created being

2

a

: a lower animal

b

: individual sense 2