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feral

Adjective

IPA /ˈferəl/

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Meaning in plain English

Living in the wild rather than under human care, especially after a domestic background.

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Pronunciation

feral/ˈferəl/

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A cat lives with people
A cat lives independently in the wild

A feral animal lives in the wild after belonging to a domesticated population.

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Volunteers counted the feral cats living near the old warehouse.
The ecology students studied how feral animals adapt to the island.

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Volunteers counted the ________ cats living near the old warehouse.

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feral — Living in the wild rather than under human care, especially after a domestic background.

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Living in the wild rather than under human care, especially after a domestic background.

Compare: Volunteers counted the feral cats living near the old warehouse.

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Word origin

From Latin fera, a wild animal, related to ferus, wild, with -al.

Did you know?

Feral cats and feral horses are common combinations.

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