creature

noun

crea·​ture ˈkrē-chər 

1

: something created either animate or inanimate: such as

a

: a lower animal

especially : a farm animal

b

: a human being

c

: a being of anomalous or uncertain aspect or nature

creatures of fantasy

2

: one that is the servile dependent or tool of another : instrument

creatural

ˈkrē-chə-rəl 

adjective

creaturehood

ˈkrē-chər-ˌhu̇d 

noun

creatureliness

ˈkrē-chər-lē-nəs 

noun

creaturely

ˈkrē-chər-lē 

adjective

Synonyms

• baby
• being
• bird
• bod [British]
• body
• character
• cookie
• cooky
• customer
• devil
• duck
• egg
• face
• fish
• guy
• head
• human
• human being
• individual
• life
• man
• mortal
• party
• person
• personage
• scout
• slob
• sort
• soul
• specimen
• stiff
• thing
• wight

Examples of creature in a Sentence

rabbits, squirrels, and other furry creatures

Few living creatures can survive without water.

a giant hairy apelike creature

She's a creature of rare beauty.

A social creature by nature, he loves working with people.

The poor creature had no way to get home.

Recent Examples on the Web

Back in 2013, the gelatinous sea creature was declared the world’s ugliest animal. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025

Nearby, kids were crouching to look into a clear tube tank and even adults were sliding on their backs under the adjacent upside-down jellyfish tank to snap a picture of these topsy-turvy creatures. —Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

Having bird feeders in your yard can give you a firsthand look at the amazing creatures that make our ecosystems function with ease. —Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025

With the largest brain to body ratio of any living fish, these gentle giants are reported to be among the most intelligent creatures on the planet. —Lynn O'Rourke Hayes, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin creātūra "act of bringing into being, something brought into being," from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to beget, give birth to, create entry 1" + -ūra

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing creature

• creature comfort
• creature of habit

Rhymes for creature

• bleacher
• feature
• preacher
• reacher
• teacher
• schoolteacher

Kids Definition

creature

noun

crea·​ture ˈkrē-chər 

1

: a created being

2

a

: a lower animal

b

: individual sense 2