feral

¹

[feer-uhl, fer-]

adjective

1. existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild.

2. having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication.

   a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.

3. of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.

feral

²

[feer-uhl, fer-]

adjective

1. causing death; fatal.

2. funereal; gloomy.

feral

¹

/ ˈfɛr-, ˈfɪərəl /

adjective

1. Also: ferine. (of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated

2. Also: ferine. savage; brutal

3. derogatory,  (of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance

noun

1. derogatory,  a person who displays such tendencies and appearance

2. slang,  disgusting

3. slang,  excellent

feral

²

/ ˈfɛr-, ˈfɪərəl /

adjective

1. astrology associated with death

2. gloomy; funereal

feral

1. Existing in a wild or untamed state, either naturally or having returned to such a state from domestication.

Word History and Origins

Origin of feral¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin, Late Latin ferālis “bestial, wild,” from Latin fer(a) “wild beast” + -ālis -al ¹

Origin of feral²

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin fērālis “of the dead, funerary, fatal”

Word History and Origins

Origin of feral¹

C17: from Medieval Latin ferālis , from Latin fera a wild beast, from ferus savage

Origin of feral²

C17: from Latin fērālis relating to corpses; perhaps related to ferre to carry

Example Sentences

They said that could lead to the wildcats breeding with feral domestic cats, with such interbreeding – also known as hybridisation - undermining the whole idea of bringing back the species.

Read more on BBC

Yet they still let her be feral and freewheeling in developing her craft.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But I just needed to go a little feral.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We were pretty feral kids and played and fought like wild animals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A longtime cat lover—he lives with his wife and a half-dozen cats in a one-bedroom Manhattan apartment—Sliwa wants to weaponize the city’s feral felines.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ferocious