wildlife

noun

wild·​life ˈwī(-ə)l(d)-ˌlīf How to pronounce wildlife (audio)
often attributive
: living things and especially mammals, birds, and fishes that are neither human nor domesticated

Examples of wildlife in a Sentence

an area with abundant wildlife
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Already having gone through the processes in Texas and Florida, SpaceX has also already begun working with Louisiana wildlife and coastal agencies to assess the impacts of such a large industrial complex along the Gulf Coast. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Kaydee was born in March 2022 in the Prado Basin in Southern California's Orange County, about 70 miles southwest of Big Bear Lake, according to Jenna Carpenter, a wildlife biologist with the Orange County Water District. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The continent is releasing higher levels of mercury into the ocean and marine ecosystem because of climate change, and the toxic metal is accumulating in the region’s wildlife, causing health problems in the food chain. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 25 Aug. 2026 Shotwell said Tuesday that SpaceX would only use a small portion of the acreage while otherwise seeking to preserve the wetlands for wildlife and the natural beauty of the area for recreational purposes like fishing, hunting, and boating. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wildlife

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wildlife was in 1879

Rhymes for wildlife

See All Rhymes for wildlife

Browse Nearby Words

wild licorice
wildlife
wild lilac
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wildlife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wildlife. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wildlife

noun
wild·​life ˈwī(ə)l-ˌ(d)līf How to pronounce wildlife (audio)
: nonhuman living things and especially wild animals living in their natural environment
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