noun
jackal
JA-kuhl
Jackal (noun) means a wild, dog-like animal related to wolves, native to Africa and parts of Asia, typically smaller than a wolf. Example: “A pack of jackals circled the carcass left by the lions.”
noun
1
A wild, dog-like animal related to wolves, native to Africa and parts of Asia, typically smaller than a wolf.
"A pack of jackals circled the carcass left by the lions."
2
A person who does someone else's dirty work, especially in an opportunistic or unscrupulous way.
"The dictator relied on a network of jackals to silence critics."
How to use jackal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wild wolf-like scavenger animal, or (figuratively) someone who preys on others or does dirty work for a stronger party.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
pack of jackals
act like a jackal
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Word forms
- Plural
- jackals
- Third person singular
- jackals
- Past tense
- jackaled, jackalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A pack of _____ circled the carcass left by the lions.
Etymology
Passed into English through French "chacal", ultimately from Persian "šaġâl", itself from an ancient Sanskrit word for the animal.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “jackal” mean?
The word “jackal” means a wild, dog-like animal related to wolves, native to Africa and parts of Asia, typically smaller than a wolf. In plain terms, a wild wolf-like scavenger animal, or (figuratively) someone who preys on others or does dirty work for a stronger party.
How do you pronounce “jackal”?
“Jackal” is pronounced JA-kuhl (/ˈd͡ʒækəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “jackal” in a sentence?
Here is “jackal” used in a sentence: “A pack of jackals circled the carcass left by the lions.”
What part of speech is “jackal”?
“Jackal” is a noun.
Where does the word “jackal” come from?
The word “jackal” comes from French. Passed into English through French "chacal", ultimately from Persian "šaġâl", itself from an ancient Sanskrit word for the animal.
How many meanings does “jackal” have?
“Jackal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wild, dog-like animal related to wolves, native to Africa and parts of Asia, typically smaller than a wolf.
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