jungle

noun

jun·​gle ˈjəŋ-gəl 

often attributive

1

a

: an impenetrable thicket or tangled mass of tropical vegetation

b

: a tract overgrown with thickets or masses of vegetation

2

a(1)

: a confused or disordered mass of objects : jumble

(2)

: something that baffles or frustrates by its tangled or complex character : maze

… the jungle of housing laws …

—Bernard Taper

b

: a place of ruthless struggle for survival

… the city is a jungle where no one is safe after dark.

—Stuart Chase

3

: electronic dance music that combines elements of techno, reggae, and hip-hop and is marked especially by an extremely fast beat

4

: a hobo camp

junglelike

ˈjəŋ-gə(l)-ˌlīk 

adjective

jungly

ˈjəŋ-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

Synonyms of jungle

• jumble
• medley
• variety
• assortment
• collage
• menagerie
• clutter

Examples of jungle in a Sentence

life in the corporate jungle

It's hard to succeed in the business world. It's a jungle out there.

a jungle of environmental laws

Recent Examples on the Web

Stabilizing Venezuela will require rooting the gangsters out of the jungles, executive suites and capitols. —Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026

Chelsea aren’t kings of the jungle but their wealth and profile give them the clout to poach from most clubs. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

Red brick walls enclose a tropical jungle retreat of sorts, where garden chairs are scattered around imparting a feel of lounging in someone’s backyard, and there is even a tiny pond on the premises. —Arundhati Hazra, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026

Rivers running from Grenada's volcanic interior down to the coast carve waterfalls into the island's lush jungles. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Hindi jaṅgal & Urdu jangal forest, from Sanskrit jaṅgala desert region

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing jungle

• asphalt jungle
• concrete jungle
• jungle cat
• jungle fowl
• jungle gym
• the law of the jungle

Rhymes for jungle

• antifungal
• fungal

Kids Definition

jungle

noun

jun·​gle ˈjəŋ-gəl 

1

: a thick tangled mass of tropical vegetation

2

: an area overgrown with jungle or other vegetation