wildlife
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of wildlife
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.
Vocabulary lists containing wildlife
Endangered Species and Wildlife Conservation
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for June 8–June 14, 2024
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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.
Designers from around the world are showcasing everything from minimalist spaces to gardens celebrating British wildlife and mental health awareness.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The conflict reflects a broader challenge in California: how to move increasingly clean power across the Golden State while simultaneously preserving the deserts, wildlife habitats and public lands that define it.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
After being hunted to extinction a century ago, gray wolves are continuing their remarkable comeback story in California, with state wildlife officials reporting a modern record number of the apex predators.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026
A wildlife trust is celebrating the recovery of a near-extinct plant after recording a seven-fold population increase.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
All of the waters of the wildlife refuges established on these two bodies of water therefore represent the drainage of agricultural lands.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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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.