creature

noun

crea·​ture ˈkrē-chər How to pronounce creature (audio)
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 adjective
creaturehood noun
creatureliness noun
creaturely adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sten Lennart Jakobsen/East Zealand Museum About 66 million years ago, just before the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, a fish chewed up and spit out some sea creatures. James Doubek, NPR, 29 Jan. 2025 Read Next California Hundreds of sea creatures leap from California waters. Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 28 Jan. 2025 In the karst, rocky limestone landscape of Thailand, a group of green creatures hides in the shadows. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025 Arthropods—whether crabs or cockroaches—developed their own version: joints in their exoskeletons that allow these creatures to bend and scuttle. Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 25 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for creature 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of creature was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near creature

Cite this Entry

“Creature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creature. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

creature

noun
crea·​ture ˈkrē-chər How to pronounce creature (audio)
1
: a created being
2
a
: a lower animal

More from Merriam-Webster on creature

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