jackal

noun

jack·​al ˈja-kəl 

 also  -ˌkȯl

1

: any of several small omnivorous canids (such as Canis aureus) of Africa and Asia having large ears, long legs, and bushy tails

2

a

: a person who performs routine or menial tasks for another

b

: a person who serves or collaborates with another especially in the commission of base acts

Examples of jackal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anubis, with the head of a jackal, stood at the passage to the underworld. —Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025

For example, the genus Canis includes wolves, dogs, coyotes and jackals. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025

From those two specimens, the Colossal team recovered enough DNA to create two dire wolf genomes to compare with other canid species, including coyotes, jackals, dholes and other wolves. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

From the master-of-disguise frogfish to a butt-biting jackal and a multi headed caterpillar playing the decoy, these are the masters of deception and deceit. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Turkish çakal, from Persian shaqāl, of Indo-Aryan origin; akin to Sanskrit sṛgāla jackal

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for jackal

• cackle
• crackle
• hackle
• shackle
• tackle
• vakil
• ramshackle
• tabernacle
• zodiacal

Kids Definition

jackal

noun

jack·​al ˈjak-əl 

-ˌȯl

: any of several wild dogs of Africa and Asia like but smaller than the related wolves