predator

/ˈpɹɛd.ə.tɚ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: predators

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any animal or other organism that hunts and kills other nonplant organisms (their prey), primarily for food.

Noun

Examples

Hives should be positioned, oriented and protected to avoid predators and ensure survival in the meliponary. A study (pers. obs.) of predators shows that the main culprits in a Malaysian meliponary are frogs and lizards.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Someone who attacks and plunders for gain.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “predator” mean?

Any animal or other organism that hunts and kills other nonplant organisms (their prey), primarily for food.

Is “predator” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.