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REFERENCE

wildlife

n.
US //ˈwaɪɫdˌɫaɪf// UK //wˈaɪldlaɪf// wildlife
  1. 1 animals in nature (n.)
    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.

    Example

    The local park is a great place to see wildlife like squirrels and birds.

    Example

    The documentary highlights the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine wildlife in the Pacific Ocean.

    Pitfall
    I 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'.

  2. 2 all wild organisms (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Academic Science

    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.

    Example

    The scientists studied the desert wildlife to see how plants and animals survive the heat.

    Example

    Conservation efforts must address the entire spectrum of wildlife, from microscopic soil organisms to the apex predators that maintain ecological balance.

    Usage

    In technical or scientific contexts, this sense encompasses both flora and fauna.

    • biota
    • biodiversity
Origin

From wild + life.

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