feral
1 Americanadjective
-
existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild.
-
having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication.
a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.
-
of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.
adjective
-
causing death; fatal.
-
funereal; gloomy.
adjective
-
Also: ferine. (of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated
-
Also: ferine. savage; brutal
-
derogatory (of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance
noun
-
derogatory a person who displays such tendencies and appearance
-
slang disgusting
-
slang excellent
adjective
-
astrology associated with death
-
gloomy; funereal
Etymology
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”
Explanation
When animal control finds a feral dog, they have to handle it very carefully because the animal is so wild that it's probably afraid of humans and likely to bite. Feral is often used to describe a wild, untamed animal, like the feral cat with its claws and sharp teeth menacingly bared, ready to strike. Qualities that are similar to a wild animal can also be called feral. The child who grew alone up in a cabin in the woods, and who didn't go to school, was called feral when she ran away from the orphanage.
Vocabulary lists containing feral
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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!
The Blood of Olympus
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!
The Marrow Thieves
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.
But timber has unique risks—hurricanes, fire, feral hogs—that can make waiting a risky proposition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
“I try to be honest and authentic and raw and feral and committed in a moment, so that there’s an invitation of experience versus a force-feeding of something that I hope the audience should feel.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
This part of Australia is the front line of that crisis: a last stand for many species driven to the brink by feral pests, disease, urban development, habitat destruction and climate change.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
"They are feral -- you can't pick them up without a net," she said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
A feral, terrified look in her dark eyes, wet with tears.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
