feral
FEER-ul
/ˈfer.əl/
Existing in a wild or untamed state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication.
Specifically describes animals or plants that were once domesticated but have reverted to a wild, untamed condition.
The story behind the word. Traced to Latin feralis ('belonging to the dead' or 'fatal') and ferus ('wild animal'). The word entered English in the 17th century to describe things wild, fierce, or uncultivated, eventually acquiring its precise biological definition in the 19th century.
Word relationships
- wild: Wild applies to organisms that have never been domesticated; feral applies to those that reverted to wildness.
- untamed: Untamed describes anything not under control, whereas feral implies a history of human control followed by escape.
- domesticated: Domesticated animals are bred and adapted to live alongside humans.
- tame: Tame animals are accustomed to human contact and gentle.
Commonly confused with
- wild: Wild animals were never tamed; feral animals were once domesticated but broke free.
Collocations
- feral cats
- feral swine
- feral instinct
- feral state
Example sentences
- "A population of feral cats hunted small mammals in the abandoned timber yard." Wildlife biology
Memory hook
A FERAL cat shows its FANGS when it gets FEARFUL. Feral = once tamed, now wild.
When not to use
Do not use for animals that were never domesticated (e.g., a lion in Africa is wild, not feral).
Fun facts
- Feral hogs in North America cause over $1.5 billion in agricultural damage every year.
Related words
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