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animal kingdom
noun
: a basic group of natural objects that includes all living and extinct animals compare mineral kingdom, plant kingdom
Examples of animal kingdom in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The nonvenomous, water-loving reptiles—named for their dotted underbellies—are some of the animal kingdom’s most dramatic actors, new research finds.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2024
Nevertheless, the study goes some way toward explaining one of the animal kingdom’s most unusual behaviors.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 2 May 2024
This physical reaction is commonly associated with a fear response in the animal kingdom — puffing up fur, for example, to fend off predators or keep warm.
—Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024
Bioluminescence is used throughout the animal kingdom, particularly in marine environments, to lure prey, startle predators and even act as camouflage in the surrounding light.
—Sam Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
The animal kingdom has no shortage of dance moves, from flamingoes’ synchronized sashays to the waltzes of scorpions.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024
Menopause is uncommon in the animal kingdom and requires an unusual set of conditions to arise, Croft said.
—Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024
This fascinating book is a treasure trove of intriguing information about the animal kingdom.
—Kristi Arnold, Rolling Stone, 5 Dec. 2023
Over millions of years, their ability to thrive in diverse habitats have solidified their status as resilient survivors in the animal kingdom.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'animal kingdom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1650, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near animal kingdom
Cite this Entry
“Animal kingdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal%20kingdom. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
animal kingdom
noun
: a basic group of natural objects that includes all living and extinct animals compare mineral kingdom, plant kingdom
Medical Definition
animal kingdom
noun
: a basic group of natural objects that includes all living and extinct animals compare mineral kingdom, plant kingdom
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