1
: 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
2
a
: one of the lower animals (see lower entry 3 sense 3) as distinguished from human beings
b
: mammal
broadly
: vertebrate
3
: a human being considered chiefly as physical or nonrational
also
: this nature
4
: a person with a particular interest or aptitude
a political animal
He's a party animal.
5
: matter, thing
the theater … is an entirely different animal—
Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller
also
: creature sense 1c
1
: of, relating to, resembling, or derived from animals
animal instincts
animal behavior
2
3
: of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops
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.
Synonyms
Examples of animal in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 18 Nov. 2024
Getting to the cream Several animals that live in groups learn from one another, including elephants, whales, and some primates.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for animal 
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Noun
This is Claudia, the only animal not made in a mold.
—Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 18 Nov. 2024
Getting to the cream Several animals that live in groups learn from one another, including elephants, whales, and some primates.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for animal
Articles Related to animal
Dictionary Entries Near animal
Cite this Entry
“Animal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
animal
1 of 2 noun
an·i·mal
ˈan-ə-məl 
1
: 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
2
a
: one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
b
: mammal
animal
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, relating to, or derived from animals
2
: 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
1
: 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
2
a
: one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
b
: mammal
broadly
: vertebrate
animal
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, relating to, or derived from animals
2
: of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops
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