scavenger

American  

[skav-in-jer] / ˈskæv ɪn dʒər /

noun

• scavengers
  plural

1. an animal or other organism that feeds on dead organic matter.

2. a person who searches through and collects items from discarded material.

3. a street cleaner.

4. Chemistry. a chemical that consumes or renders inactive the impurities in a mixture.

---

scavenger British  

/ ˈskævɪndʒə /

noun

1. a person who collects things discarded by others

2. any animal that feeds on decaying organic matter, esp on refuse

3. a substance added to a chemical reaction or mixture to counteract the effect of impurities

4. a person employed to clean the streets

---

scavenger Scientific  

/ skăv′ən-jər /

1. An animal that feeds on dead organisms, especially a carnivorous animal that eats dead animals rather than or in addition to hunting live prey. Vultures, hyenas, and wolves are scavengers.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scavengery
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scavengers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of scavenger

1520–30; earlier scavager < Anglo-French scawageour, equivalent to ( e ) scawage inspection ( escaw ( er ) to inspect < Middle Dutch schauwen to look at (cognate with show ) + -age -age ) + -eour -or ²

Explanation

Ever catch a raccoon in your garbage can? The critter is a scavenger, digging around for whatever it can find to eat. In fact, anything or anybody searching for and collecting what others have tossed away is a scavenger. Originally the Middle English word skavager referred to a customs collector who collected scavage, or a toll on foreign goods brought in to sell. In the late 14th Century, scavengers were people hired to clean the streets. Later, the word was used for animals who ate decaying creatures. Later still, the "scavenger hunt" became popular as a game where people have to find items on a list. Anyone who hunts for and collects castoffs could be called a scavenger.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scavenger scavengers

The steps that had to be followed to find a party or rave added to the fun, turning these events into adrenaline-pumping scavenger hunts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

There was a tour of the foundry and museum, and a murder-mystery scavenger hunt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

The dump, which is partly open air, attracts large numbers of scavenger birds.

From Barron's ● May 12, 2026

Many scavenger species have also developed behaviors that help limit their exposure to disease, further reducing the risks associated with this food source.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 19, 2026

One week later Emily and James returned to the Bayside Press building, this time with Matthew in tow, to meet with Mr. Griswold’s assistant, Jack, and discuss their prize for winning Mr. Griswold’s scavenger hunt.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Notably, neither scavengers nor flies that fed on the supposedly poisoned carcasses have perished -- creatures that typically succumb after consuming poisoned animals.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

"They are essential to eco-systems", he says, detailing how as scavengers they remove tonnes of waste on a "phenomenal scale".

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

The result is a rare specimen that wasn’t worn down by scavengers or exposure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026

The surface is now home to scavengers, soldiers, mutants, and ghouls, all doing their best to survive on spoiled food, brackish water, and whatever’s left in long-abandoned vending machines.

From Salon ● May 12, 2025

Provide other scavengers with a hint for how to find your book.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman