noun

wildlife

Wild animals and other living things in their natural surroundings.

The park protects wildlife by keeping forests and wetlands intact.

Etymology

The compound joins untamed existence with life. It identifies organisms living in their natural surroundings rather than under cultivation or domestication.

More examples

  • Please watch the wildlife from a safe distance.
  • Pollution threatens wildlife along the river.
  • The survey records wildlife, including birds, insects, and native plants.

Forms

wildlife

Similar words

fauna
Refers only to animals, not plants or other organisms.
nature
Includes landscapes and physical surroundings as well as living things.