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
People across continents might link rainbows with snakes, or see rabbits on the moon, or cast foxes, jackals, and coyotes as tricksters.
—
Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
At dinner a jackal, smelling oryx steak, came right up to our table and looked with soft-eyed longing at the food, like a beloved pet.
—Aatish Taseer, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for jackal
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Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
At dinner a jackal, smelling oryx steak, came right up to our table and looked with soft-eyed longing at the food, like a beloved pet.
—Aatish Taseer, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for jackal
Cite this Entry
“Jackal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackal. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jackal
noun
jack·al
ˈjak-əl 
-ˌȯl
: any of several wild dogs of Africa and Asia like but smaller than the related wolves
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