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

But 15,000 years ago, a group of hunter-gatherers known as the Natufian culture living in the southern Levant did more than eke out an existence. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026

Most wild animals are extremely lean, so hunter-gatherers crave the fat-rich parts of the body, including the marrow and liver. — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026

According to the nonprofit Survival International, the remaining Kawahiva are nomadic hunter-gatherers who survived attacks and disease and continue to avoid contact with outsiders. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

The sample included the hunter-gatherers and two other Indigenous groups that focus on farming and agriculture. — Willow Zhang, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 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