noun

critter

KRIH-tuh

Critter (noun) means an informal word for a living creature, especially an animal. Example: “There's a critter rustling around in the garden shed.”

noun

An informal word for a living creature, especially an animal.

"There's a critter rustling around in the garden shed."

"The kids loved petting all the critters at the farm."

How to use critter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA casual, folksy way to say "animal" or "creature."

When to use it

Informal and often used affectionately or humorously; not used in formal or scientific writing.

Common pairings

a little critter furry critter critters in the yard

Word forms

critters plural

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There's a _____ rustling around in the garden shed.

Etymology

A dialect pronunciation of "creature" first recorded in 1815, mostly associated with rural American English.

· First attested 1815

Class of 1815 critter joined the language around 1815.

boost Davy Waterloo

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Rhymes for critter

bitter litter ritter witter sitter fitter hitter quitter glitter twitter skitter fritter

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Frequently asked questions

What does “critter” mean?

The word “critter” means an informal word for a living creature, especially an animal. In plain terms, a casual, folksy way to say "animal" or "creature.".

How do you pronounce “critter”?

“Critter” is pronounced KRIH-tuh (/ˈkɹɪtɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “critter” in a sentence?

Here is “critter” used in a sentence: “There's a critter rustling around in the garden shed.”

What part of speech is “critter”?

“Critter” is a noun.

Where does the word “critter” come from?

The word “critter” dates back to around 1815. A dialect pronunciation of "creature" first recorded in 1815, mostly associated with rural American English.