animal kingdom

American  

noun

1. the animals of the world collectively.

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animal kingdom British  

noun

1. a category of living organisms comprising all animals Compare plant kingdom mineral kingdom

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animal kingdom Cultural  

1. The group of living things typically distinguished from members of the plant kingdom by the power of moving from place to place and by a metabolism that does not use photosynthesis.

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Etymology

Origin of animal kingdom

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

The ladybug, once a treasured member of the animal kingdom, is six legs deep in a publicity crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal

Political systems that resemble one another in their fundamental structure and function are like species in the animal kingdom: A chihuahua is not a golden retriever, but they are both dogs.

From Salon

Sir David Attenborough's latest BBC One series documents how parents from across the animal kingdom sacrifice everything in order to raise their young.

From BBC

Sir David Attenborough returns to BBC One on Sunday with a new five-part wildlife series showing how parents from across the animal kingdom sacrifice everything in order to raise their young.

From BBC

But however put-upon we may feel, our kids' failure to overtly and regularly praise us for our maternal virtues is nothing beside the societal lack of appreciation for some of the animal kingdom's great mothers.

From Salon