English · Nature & Environment

wildlife

/ˈwaɪld.laɪf/

[/ˈwaɪld.laɪf/]

wild animals and plants

Beginnernoun

Definition

Animals, birds, and other living things that live and grow in natural, wild conditions.

Example

The reserve was created to protect the wildlife that the new highway had threatened.

The reserve was created to protect the wildlife that the new highway had threatened.

Etymology

A 20th-century compound of 'wild' and 'life'.

How & Where It’s Used

Common in nature documentaries and conservation contexts.

Watch “wild animals and plants” pronunciation on YouTube
ecology

Related Terms