Word of the day, 5 September 2025: ‘Feral’

Word Of The Day:FERAL

Pronunciaton: fe·ral UK/ˈfer.əl/ US/ˈfer.əl/

Meaning

Feral means wild or untamed, especially after escape from domestication.

Origin and History

The word feral originates from the Latin ‘fera,’ meaning wild beast entered the English language in the 17th century.

1600s: Used in English to refer to wild beasts or animals that had reverted from domesticated states.

19th Century: Appeared in scientific and naturalist texts describing escaped or non-domesticated populations

Examples from literature

They are dirty and weak, feral and hungry-looking, like I’ve wandered into the den of some wild, desperate pack with Max as their leader. – The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
He looked older now and kind of feral. – A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata

Synonyms

Published: 05 September 2025, 08:00 AM IST