animal

1 of 2

noun

an·i·mal ˈa-nə-məl

: any of a kingdom (Animalia) of living things including many-celled organisms and often many of the single-celled ones (such as protozoans) that typically differ from plants in having cells without cellulose walls, in lacking chlorophyll and the capacity for photosynthesis, in requiring more complex food materials (such as proteins), in being organized to a greater degree of complexity, and in having the capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor responses to stimulation

: one of the lower animals (see lower entry 3 sense 3) as distinguished from human beings

: mammal

broadly : vertebrate

: a human being considered chiefly as physical or nonrational

also : this nature

: a person with a particular interest or aptitude

a political animal

He's a party animal.

: matter, thing

the theater … is an entirely different animal—

Arthur Miller

also : creature sense 1c

animallike

ˈa-nə-mə(l)-ˌlīk

adjective

animal

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, resembling, or derived from animals

animal instincts

animal behavior

: of or relating to the physical or sentient as contrasted with the intellectual or rational

: sensual, fleshly

indulged his animal appetites

: of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops

animally

ˈa-nə-mə-lē

adverb

Did you know?

Latin anima means “breath” or “soul,” and animalis, the adjective that comes from it, means “having breath or soul.” An animal such as a cat or dog can be seen to breathe. Plants breathe too, by taking in certain gases from the atmosphere and releasing others. However, this process cannot be observed by the naked eye. So the noun animal, which comes from animalis, was borrowed from Latin for that group of living beings that breathe visibly.

Choose the Right Synonym for animal

carnal, fleshly, sensual, animal mean having a relation to the body.

carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature.

gave in to carnal desires

fleshly is less derogatory than carnal.

a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations

sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual.

fleshpots providing sensual delights

animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person.

led a mindless animal existence

Example Sentences

Noun the animals in the zoo the plants and animals of the forest She loves all kinds of animals. Fish, birds, insects, reptiles, mammals, and human beings are all animals. You're all behaving like a bunch of animals. Adjective several different plant and animal species milk, meat, and other animal products People were shocked by the animal brutality of the attack. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As the zoo's most elderly animal, she's received a lot of recognition. —

Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 29 May 2023 There have been many fossils from prehistoric animals found in the area, many of which can be seen at the visitor's center. —

Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 29 May 2023 Winner is just getting home from running errands when she’s approached by two FBI agents (Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis), who meet her in the driveway and almost immediately begin asking whether there are any animals in the house. —

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 29 May 2023 The research group captures sharks and takes biological samples from them before fitting each animal with a tracker. —

Zoe Sottile, CNN, 28 May 2023 Several different people handled the animal and some kissed it, the wildlife department said. —

Patrick Whittle, BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2023 Rabies tests are done once the animal is euthanized. —

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023 The team found between 6,000 and 8,000 animals, with about 5,000 being completely new to science. —

Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 26 May 2023 To be truly wild, to sustain the pulse in his book’s titular metaphor, a great ecosystem must nurture myriad plant and animal species and support a network of essential natural processes such as photosynthesis, pollination, competition and predation. —

Gerard Helferich, WSJ, 26 May 2023

Adjective

Animal lovers will enjoy horseback riding or visiting one of the area’s animal sanctuaries. —

Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2023 Smoothies are an easy way to incorporate more non-animal protein into your diet. —

Amy Stanford, Health, 27 Mar. 2023 But momentum is building for non-animal approaches, which could ultimately help speed drug development, improve patient outcomes and reduce the burdens borne by lab animals, experts said. —

Emily Anthes, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023 Nature friendly and environmentally friendly products are readily accepted by the sophisticated consumer who is searching for products that are non-animal. —

Walter Loeb, Forbes, 10 June 2022 Yiannas' notice comes less than a week before Califf is expected to release a response to a scathing report calling for an overhaul of the way the agency regulates human and animal foods. —

Jonel Aleccia, ajc, 25 Jan. 2023 The effects wouldn't be seen just in animal life—wildebeests help to maintain the grassland ecosystem, too. —

Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2010 The lawsuit is likely to put the spotlight on the explosive growth of plastics pollution, which scientists say is affecting air and water quality, global warming, as well as human and animal life. —

Catherine Porter, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2023 Hypercarnivores — such as polar bears, gray wolves and Arctic foxes — are typical predators in the Arctic, where there are few non-animal food sources, especially during winter. —

Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2014 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'animal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Latin, from animale, neuter of animalis animate, from anima soul — more at animate

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of animal was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Animal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

animal

1 of 2 noun

an·i·mal ˈan-ə-məl

: any of a kingdom of living things composed of many cells typically differing from plants in capacity for active movement, in rapid response to stimulation, in being unable to carry on photosynthesis, and in lack of cellulose cell walls

: one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings

: mammal

animal

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or derived from animals

: of or relating to the body rather than the mind

Etymology

Noun

from Latin animal "living being that can move," derived from animalis "animate," from anima "soul, breath" — related to animate see Word History at animate

Word Origin

Latin anima means "breath" or "soul," and animalis, the adjective that comes from it, means "having breath or soul." An animal such as a cat or dog can be seen to breathe. Plants breathe too, by taking in certain gases from the atmosphere and releasing others. However, this process cannot be observed by the naked eye. So the noun animal, which comes from animalis, was borrowed from Latin for that group of living beings that breathe visibly.

Medical Definition

animal

1 of 2 noun

an·i·mal ˈan-ə-məl

: any of a kingdom (Animalia) of living things including many-celled organisms and often many of the single-celled ones (as protozoans) that typically differ from plants in having cells without cellulose walls, in lacking chlorophyll and the capacity for photosynthesis, in requiring more complex food materials (as proteins), in being organized to a greater degree of complexity, and in having the capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor response to stimulation

: one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings

: mammal

broadly : vertebrate

animal

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or derived from animals

: of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops