# jackals

/dʒˈækəlz/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jackals
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

wild animals that look like small dogs with pointed ears and bushy tails. They live in Africa and parts of Asia and often hunt or find dead animals to eat.

For teachers: medium-sized wild canids native to Africa and parts of Asia, resembling small wolves with pointed ears and narrow muzzles, often hunting or scavenging in pairs or small packs.

## Examples

- Jackals search for food at night near the village.
- The farmer hears jackals howling beyond the fence and checks the goats before dark.
- At dusk the jackals emerge from the scrub, their sharp cries carrying across the plain as they follow old hunting paths.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.