predation

noun

pre·​da·​tion pri-ˈdā-shən 

1

: the killing by one living organism of another for food

These small fish are most vulnerable to predation just after sunset, when larger fish, such as barracuda and jacks, chase them into the shallow water near shore to feed on them.

—Anne Brooke

… elephant seals historically avoided the mainland to protect the newborns from predation by grizzly bears.

—Carolyn Longstreth

In other words, just as vascular plants make tannins, phenols, sterols and alkaloids to defend against predation, it is likely that cyanobacteria synthesize poisons to ward off attack by fellow planktonic species.

—Wayne Carmichael

: a mode of life in which food is primarily obtained by the killing and consuming of animals

Predation is important to an understanding of ancient ecology because the food chain helps determine the structure of biological communities.

—Derek Briggs and Harry Whittington

Weeks or months later, depending on ambient temperatures, a beetle returns to the water to resume a life of predation.

—Natural History

2

: the act of injuring, exploiting, or plundering others for personal gain

A burglary occurs every 10 seconds, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Such predation keeps Americans uneasy …

—Consumer Reports

To the traditionalists, predation is any price or product strategy intended to impose costs on a competitor.

—Insight

Examples of predation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers think that large, burrowing predators like may have driven the rapid evolution of stream-dwelling salamanders in Appalachia by introducing new levels of competition and predation. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2025

One possible explanation for this is that an obvious reaction might draw attention to their nests and leave their eggs more at risk of predation. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 June 2025

Flying at night provides more stable, less turbulent air and may reduce the risk of predation from diurnal raptors. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025

Melissa is an extremely gifted mountain athlete, but what truly fueled her mountain pursuits was a relentless emotional emptiness created from childhood abuse at the hands of her mother and predation from a teacher. —Outside Online, 28 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English predacion, from Latin praedation-, praedatio, from praedari

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing predation

• predation pressure

Rhymes for predation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

predation

noun

pre·​da·​tion pri-ˈdā-shən 

: a way of life in which food is obtained mostly by killing and eating animals