mammal

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noun mam·mal \ ˈma-məl \

Definition of mammal

:any of a class (Mammalia) of warm-blooded higher vertebrates (such as placentals, marsupials, or monotremes) that nourish their young with milk secreted by mammary glands, have the skin usually more or less covered with hair, and include humans

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mammalian

play \mə-ˈmā-lē-ən, ma-\ adjective or noun

See mammal defined for English-language learners

See mammal defined for kids

Examples of mammal in a Sentence

Human beings, dogs, and cats are all mammals.

Recent Examples of mammal from the Web

Pygmy sperm whales are so-named due to their similar appearance to the larger mammals.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pygymy sperm whale rescued from beach dies," 24 Aug. 2017
All living mammals are divided into three main branches.

— carl zimmer, The Seattle Times, "In the Age of Dinosaurs, mammals took to the skies," 11 Aug. 2017
In 2010, for example, studies centered on Kakadu National Park south of Darwin, Australia, revealed a population collapse of small marsupials and mammals.

— john pickrell, Science | AAAS, "Australia to ax support for long-term ecology sites," 11 Aug. 2017
All living mammals are divided into three main branches.

— carl zimmer, The Seattle Times, "In the Age of Dinosaurs, mammals took to the skies," 11 Aug. 2017
All living mammals are divided into three main branches.

— carl zimmer, New York Times, "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Mammals Took to the Skies," 9 Aug. 2017
If the foul odor easily identifiable as that of one of the most reviled of suburban mammals seems more prominent in Naperville and elsewhere this summer, there's a reason.

— ronnie wachter, Naperville Sun, "Skunk population increase raising a stink around town," 1 Aug. 2017
This brushlike plant is of a time before there were mammals, before there were dinosaurs, before there even were flowering plants.

— matt campbell, kansascity, "Plant fossil found at Park University is 306 million years old and a new species," 19 July 2017
One of the oldest known species of mammals, black rhinos are native to Eastern and Central Africa and weigh between 1,760 and 3,080 pounds as adults.

— shauna steigerwald, Cincinnati.com, "Critically endangered black rhino baby born at Cincinnati Zoo," 18 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mammal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of mammal

New Latin Mammalia, from Late Latin, neuter plural of mammalis of the breast, from Latin mamma breast

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1813

See Words from the same year

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

MAMMAL Defined for English Language Learners

mammal

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noun

Definition of mammal for English Language Learners

: a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin

MAMMAL Defined for Kids

mammal

play

noun mam·mal \ ˈma-məl \

Definition of mammal for Students

:a warm-blooded animal (as a dog, mouse, bear, whale, or human being) with a backbone that feeds its young with milk produced by the mother and has skin usually more or less covered with hair