jackal

American  

[jak-uhl, -awl] / ˈdʒæk əl, -ɔl /

noun

jackals plural

1. any of several nocturnal wild dogs of the genus Canis, especially C. aureus, of Asia and Africa, that scavenge or hunt in packs.

2. a person who performs dishonest or base deeds as the follower or accomplice of another.

3. a person who performs menial or degrading tasks for another.

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jackal British  

/ ˈdʒækɔːl /

noun

1. any of several African or S Asian canine mammals of the genus Canis , closely related to the dog, having long legs and pointed ears and muzzle: predators and carrion-eaters

2. a person who does menial tasks for another

3. a villain, esp a swindler

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• jackals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of jackal

1595–1605; < alteration, by association with Jack, of Persian shag ( h ) āl; cognate with Sanskrit śṛgāla

Compare meaning

How does jackal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• jackal vs. hyena

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jackal jackals

I suppose she is referring to an alley cat or perhaps a jackal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025

England's back row of Ben Earl, Tom Curry and Ben Curry posed a significant jackal threat, spreading across the width of the pitch, meaning one was always on hand to disrupt the breakdown.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2025

Dead animals littered the side of the road; deer, raccoons, something that looked like a purple jackal, a Chupacabra or two, what looked like a werewolf, and at least one low-flying turkey vulture.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2024

Despite the Ivy League imprimatur, the cartoonist was still happy when people called him “the retching jackal guy,” a reference to his Mad illustration showing that animal mid-vomit.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 10, 2023

“The jackal leaped through the window again. The hyena tried to follow, but she became stuck. ‘Help me, O junior wife!

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

As North Korea’s hagiographers rewrote history, they held American missionaries responsible for the country’s misfortunes, while state-sponsored novels, plays and museums depicted them as jackals who subjected Koreans to vile human experiments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026

Young ospreys who do not return might have fallen prey to crocodiles and jackals, or have been blown out in to the Atlantic, he said.

From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026

The animals, also known as the plains wolf and listed as vulnerable, are smaller than the stronger Himalayan wolf and can be mistaken for other species such as jackals.

From Barron's ● Nov. 30, 2025

Though they are genetically closer to jackals, they convergently evolved to resemble gray wolves.

From Slate ● Apr. 10, 2025

One thing was clear: It wouldn’t stay on that rock long if the jackals and vultures discovered it.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer