animal kingdom

American  

noun

animal kingdoms plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• animal kingdoms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of animal kingdom

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

animal kingdom

Researchers say long-lived species throughout the animal kingdom can provide valuable insights into the biological mechanisms behind healthy aging.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 2026

The creatures I’m mentioning here aren’t flukes in the animal kingdom.

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

Showing Attenborough's cross-generational appeal, US singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has praised his "deep love and knowledge of our planet", adding: "The animal kingdom brings out the childlike curiosity within us all."

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

But examining the animal kingdom for answers can only tell us so much.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026

The wandering bands of storytelling Sapiens were the most important and most destructive force the animal kingdom had ever produced.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari