creature
- 01 B1 Intermediate
any living animal, especially one that is not a human.
any living being, typically used to refer to non-human animals in a general or biological context.
Simple“The forest is home to many small creatures like squirrels and rabbits.”
In context“Deep-sea explorers continue to discover bizarre creatures that have evolved to survive under extreme pressure and total darkness.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
a strange, scary, or mysterious living thing from a story or movie.
an imaginary, mysterious, or monstrous being, often appearing in folklore or science fiction.
Simple“The movie was about a giant creature that lived at the bottom of the lake.”
In context“The myth describes a terrifying creature with the head of a lion and the wings of an eagle.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person, often used when you feel pity for them or when you think they are unpleasant.
a human being, often qualified by an adjective to express pity, contempt, or a specific character trait.
Simple“The poor creature had nowhere to go in the freezing rain.”
In context“He was a strange, lonely creature who rarely spoke to his neighbours and never left his house during the day.”
UsageUsually follows an adjective like 'poor', 'pitiful', or 'vile'.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
someone who is controlled by or depends on a more powerful person.
a person who is entirely subservient to or dependent upon another, often used in political or formal contexts.
Simple“The dictator surrounded himself with loyal creatures who never questioned his orders.”
In context“The minister was seen as a mere creature of the crown, lacking any independent political will or personal authority.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is rare in modern conversation; it is mostly found in historical novels or formal political analysis.
“As a longtime field photographer for National Geographic magazine, Sartore had always been interested in the natural world and cared about its creatures, big and small.”
“The human being is a creature which cannot be reduced to its matter.”
From Middle English creature in the original sense of “a created thing”, borrowed via Old French creature, criature, from Latin creātūra, from creō. Displaced native Old English ġesċeaft. Doublet of craythur and critter.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.