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adj Uncommon

feral

FEH-ruhl

Feral (adj) means Wild and untamed, especially describing an animal that has escaped domestication and now lives in the wild. Example: “A colony of feral cats lives behind the old warehouse.”

adj
1
Wild and untamed, especially describing an animal that has escaped domestication and now lives in the wild.
"A colony of feral cats lives behind the old warehouse."
2
Out of control, wild, or unruly, said of a person or behavior.
"The kids went feral the moment school let out for summer."

How to use feral

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWild — either an animal that has reverted from domestic life, or a person behaving in an unrestrained, uncivilized way.

Common pairings
feral cats go feral feral hogs

Word forms

more feral comparative, more feral comparative, ferals plural, most feral superlative, most feral superlative

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Test yourself on “feral” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

A colony of _____ cats lives behind the old warehouse.

Etymology

From Latin ferus ("wild, savage") plus the adjective suffix "-al."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for feral

See all rhymes for feral →

Frequently asked questions

What does “feral” mean?

The word “feral” means wild and untamed, especially describing an animal that has escaped domestication and now lives in the wild. In plain terms, wild — either an animal that has reverted from domestic life, or a person behaving in an unrestrained, uncivilized way.

How do you pronounce “feral”?

“Feral” is pronounced FEH-ruhl (/ˈfɛɹəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “feral” in a sentence?

Here is “feral” used in a sentence: “A colony of feral cats lives behind the old warehouse.”

What part of speech is “feral”?

“Feral” is an adjective.

Where does the word “feral” come from?

The word “feral” comes from Latin. From Latin ferus ("wild, savage") plus the adjective suffix "-al.".

Is “feral” a common word?

“Feral” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “feral” have?

“Feral” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wild and untamed, especially describing an animal that has escaped domestication and now lives in the wild.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial