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Showing results for wildlife. Search instead for wild life.
Synonyms

wildlife

American  
[wahyld-lahyf] / ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf /

noun

  1. undomesticated animals living in the wild, including those hunted for food, sport, or profit.


adjective

  1. of, for, or abounding in wildlife.

    a wildlife preserve.

wildlife British  
/ ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf /

noun

  1. wild animals and plants collectively

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of wildlife

First recorded in 1930–35; wild + life

Explanation

Animals that aren't tamed or domesticated are collectively known as wildlife. One of the things people love about visiting the Galapagos Islands is seeing all the unusual wildlife. All of the wild animals that live in a particular area (and sometimes the plants as well) fall under the category of wildlife. If you're dedicated to protecting wildlife, it means you care about keeping native animals from being harmed by humans. A wildlife refuge or sanctuary is a place where animals can roam without being hunted, and native plants grow freely.

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Vocabulary lists containing wildlife

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:

There could even be implications for wildlife conservation.

From Science Daily Sep. 20, 2026

A wildlife charity fears it could lose a funding grant after a burst pipe prevented vital conservation work.

From BBC Sep. 18, 2026

My errand took me past a railing that overlooks a large canal where wildlife often visits.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 18, 2026

But, she said, it would generally be recommended to call wildlife officials for help in a similar situation.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 17, 2026

What would happen to wildlife as a result of the insecticide used against the ants was another matter.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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