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:
Those pathogens can then be transferred to the next creature the insect feeds on when it deposits saliva into that creature’s bloodstream.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
Only then do we see this dark colossus for the slight creature he always was.
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
“Everyone, repeat after me!” the Hufflepuff called, wand pointed at the creature.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
The biggest engines are often installed in pairs or quads, bestowing “Miami Vice”-style speed on large vessels packed with creature comforts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
There was a big patch of bracken; he thrust the griffin into it, and the creature curled into a ball, quivering.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
The author of “Bitter Honey” on the big lives and surprising stories of tiny creatures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
In a video call from the Southern California facility where he is detained, he finally showed them proof — a plastic bottle filled with drinking water and what appeared to be worm-like creatures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Nevertheless, here there are creatures great and small who are charming, touching, funny and so much more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Head of Marine at the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Georgia de Jong Cleyndert, said although the "incredible" blue creatures looked like jellyfish, they were actually colonial hydrozoans.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
First a cascade of shrew-like creatures with canine fangs, soaking wet, a dozen of them, and then a great horde of what looked like large green-horned squirrels, wailing and crying out—“Run! Run!” —as they went.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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.
