plural creatures
1
a
: an animal of any type
rabbits, squirrels, and other furry creatures
They say that these forests are filled with wild creatures. [=beasts]
Few living creatures can survive without water.
b
: an imaginary or very strange kind of animal
fantastic/mythical/legendary creatures [=beasts, monsters]
strange sea creatures
a giant hairy apelike creature
2
: a person usually of a specified type
She's a creature of rare beauty.
A social creature by nature, he loves working with people.
The poor creature had no way to get home.
3
: a person or thing that is influenced or controlled by something specified
—+ of
She's a creature of politics.
The industry is still a creature of the 1930s. [=it began in the 1930s and has not changed]
I'm a creature of habit. [=I always do the same things in the same way]
Cite this Entry
“Creature.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/creature. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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