animal

"Animal" is a common and versatile English word with a few distinct meanings. Most of the time it refers to living creatures, but it can also be used figuratively to describe people or situations. Here are the most useful senses.

1nounliving creature

An animal is any living thing that is not a plant, fungus, or bacterium. Think of dogs, birds, fish, insects — they are all animals. In everyday conversation, people often use 'animal' to mean a four-legged creature specifically, as opposed to a bird or fish, but scientifically it covers all of them.

everyday language, biology · Modern, widely used

The zoo has animals from every continent in the world.

A fox is a wild animal that sometimes comes into cities looking for food.

Scientists discovered a new animal species deep in the ocean.

2nounfigurativea brutal or uncivilized person

When you call a person an 'animal', you mean they are behaving in a very rough, violent, or uncivilized way — like they have no manners or self-control. It is not a compliment. It compares the person to a wild creature that does not follow social rules.

everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative

The crowd turned into animals when the fight broke out.

He eats like an animal — food everywhere!

3adjectiverelating to animals or basic instincts

Used before a noun, 'animal' describes something that belongs to or comes from animals, or something that feels very raw and instinctive — like a deep physical urge rather than a thought.

everyday language, science · Modern, widely used

The documentary explored animal behavior in the wild.

There was an animal energy in the stadium as the fans cheered.

Survival is an animal instinct that all creatures share.

4nounfigurativea particular type of thing or person

In informal English, you can say something is 'a different animal' or 'a whole other animal' to mean it is a completely different type of thing. It is a way of saying two things are not the same at all, even if they look similar.

everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative

Writing a novel and writing a blog post are completely different animals.

Managing a small team is one thing, but running a company is a different animal entirely.