creature
Americannoun
-
creatures
plural
-
an animal, especially a nonhuman.
the creatures of the woods and fields; a creature from outer space.
-
anything created, whether animate or inanimate.
-
person; human being.
She is a charming creature. The driver of a bus is sometimes an irritable creature.
-
an animate being.
-
a person whose position or fortune is owed to someone or something and who continues under the control or influence of that person or thing.
The cardinal was a creature of Louis XI.
-
Scot. and Older U.S. Use. Usually the creature intoxicating liquor, especially whiskey.
He drinks a bit of the creature before bedtime.
noun
-
a living being, esp an animal
-
something that has been created, whether animate or inanimate
a creature of the imagination
-
a human being; person: used as a term of scorn, pity, or endearment
-
a person who is dependent upon another; tool or puppet
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of creature
First recorded before 1250–1300; Middle English creature, from Late Latin creātūra “act of creating”; see create, -ure
Explanation
A creature is a living thing: there are flying creatures, sea creatures, and even imaginary creatures, like unicorns. Ever heard of a "creature feature"? That's a horror movie about weird scary creatures and other monsters. But you can call pretty much any living thing a creature. You'll find all kinds of creatures at the zoo, and maybe even a few lurking in your smelly gym shoes. Bears, bugs, birds, and bunnies are all creatures. When you see the word creature, think "It's alive!"
Vocabulary lists containing creature
Beowulf vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Frankenstein"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"How Do We Use Water?"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The creature then attempted to get back to the water, sparking swift action from police and Department of Conservation officials to make sure it did so unharmed.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
A creature descends to Earth from a sleek spacecraft, still humanoid but far removed from its ancestor species Homo sapiens sapiens.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Of the two angry men, Mr. Brownlee’s raging Mitridate was quite a different creature from Mr. Costanzo’s sly, malicious Farnace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Stones Throw, like the creature climbing up his shirt, is a resilient survivor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
He worked gently, knowing the agony the creature was feeling.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
This is the sixth wave of the creatures in the nesting season, which started in March.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
She runs away to a place where she adapts quickly to the creatures around her, and learns how to feel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
Though clever with nature apps, the Global Positioning System and sourcing from social media, she’s often reminded that wild creatures don’t keep precise appointments with time and place.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
There’s an understandable pacing dip afterward, when the wounded villagers think the nightmare is over and our protagonists learn separately that the forest holds more of these mysteriously strong creatures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
I’d study whatever I had to; do whatever it took so that one day I could get involved in whatever work helped free trapped creatures, both human and animal.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
