pack animal

noun

Synonyms of pack animalnext
: an animal used for carrying packs

Examples of pack animal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The few visible trails had been kept open by the passage of wild donkeys descended from colonial-era pack animals. Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026 The long-distance trade is particularly impressive considering pre-Columbian North America’s only pack animal was the dog. Adam Crepelle, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2025 All this was built with only basic tools, pack animals and human muscle – the latter supplied by some 9,000 laborers, roughly one-quarter of whom were recent immigrants from Ireland. Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025 As of today, human waste bags, also known as WAG bags, are carried down by pack animals from Everest Base Camp in barrels for disposal in Gorakshep. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pack animal

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pack animal was in 1836

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Cite this Entry

“Pack animal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pack%20animal. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

pack animal

noun
: an animal (as a horse or donkey) used for carrying packs
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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