predation

[ pri-dey-shuhn ]

noun

1. depredation; plundering.
2. act of plundering or robbing.
3. predatory behavior.
4. a relation between animals in which one organism captures and feeds on others.

predation

/ prɪˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. a relationship between two species of animal in a community, in which one (the predator) hunts, kills, and eats the other (the prey)

Word History and Origins

Origin of predation¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin praedātiōn-, stem of praedātiō “a plundering,” from praedāt(us) “plundered” (past participle of praedārī “to plunder, pillage”; predator ) + -iō -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

The nonprofit Wild Animal Initiative, for example, believes we should reduce all kinds of animal suffering, even, perhaps, suffering due to predation.

From Outside Online

A similar process of political facsimile, this time mimicking QAnon’s tendency to baselessly allege sexual predation, is also occurring worldwide.

From Ozy

Flattening his alleged predation into SVU tropes steers us away from the question of why 17-year-olds make dating profiles for old men and put them online with cute selfies.

From The Daily Beast

One of Darwin’s great insights was the idea that everyday events—small mutations, predation, competition—could slowly change species, given time.

From Singularity Hub 

Catnip probably didn’t evolve in response to predation from ancient mosquitoes or fruit flies, he says.

From Science News For Students

Starvation, disease, war, and predation were common threats for a majority of our evolutionary history.

From The Daily Beast

WGA is classified as a lectin—a term for a protein produced by an organism to protect itself from predation.

From The Daily Beast

This “double whammy” of predation and competition enables jellyfish to cripple a food chain by essentially nibbling at its ankles.

From The Daily Beast

The whole thing combines a French disregard for sexual predation with our own culture of uptight sensationalism.

From The Daily Beast

The transition from peace to predation therefore depends on the growth of technical knowledge and the use of tools.

From Project Gutenberg

The conventions of the business world have grown up under the selective surveillance of this principle of predation or parasitism.

From Project Gutenberg

Young in the nest would seem to be especially susceptible to predation by the pilot black snake.

From Project Gutenberg

Further verification of predation on mammals, reptiles and amphibians by this species is needed.

From Project Gutenberg

In addition to known predation by mountain lions and coyotes on porcupines, the bobcat kills porcupines.

From Project Gutenberg