The word feral, describes an animal living in the wild after escaping domestication, or more broadly, anything untamed, savage, or fierce
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
- Wild
- Untamed
- Undomesticated
- Untrained
Published: 05 Sept 2025, 08:00 am IST
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