wildlife
- 01 B1 Intermediate
animals, birds, and insects that live in the wild and are not pets or farm animals.
undomesticated animals, especially mammals, birds, and fish, considered as a group in their natural environment. Uncountable in general usage.
Simple“The local park is a great place to see wildlife like squirrels and birds.”
In context“The documentary highlights the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine wildlife in the Pacific Ocean.”
PitfallI saw many wildlifes in the forest. I saw a lot of wildlife in the forest.Wildlife is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form with 's'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
all living things in nature, including plants and tiny organisms, not just animals.
the total population of undomesticated organisms within a specific ecosystem, including flora, fauna, and fungi.
Simple“The scientists studied the desert wildlife to see how plants and animals survive the heat.”
In context“Conservation efforts must address the entire spectrum of wildlife, from microscopic soil organisms to the apex predators that maintain ecological balance.”
UsageIn technical or scientific contexts, this sense encompasses both flora and fauna.
Synonymsbiotabiodiversity
“Orangutans rescued from wildlife traffickers face a new threat from the record number of fires that have broken out in Indonesia in recent weeks.”
“India's Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), a federal agency that investigates organised wildlife crime, has also become involved in the case.”
From wild + life.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.