jackal

[ jak-uhl, -awl ]

/ ˈdʒæk əl, -ɔl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for jackal on Thesaurus.com

noun

any of several nocturnal wild dogs of the genus Canis, especially C. aureus, of Asia and Africa, that scavenge or hunt in packs.

a person who performs dishonest or base deeds as the follower or accomplice of another.

a person who performs menial or degrading tasks for another.

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of jackal

1595–1605; < alteration, by association with Jack, of Persian shag(h)āl; cognate with Sanskrit śṛgāla

Words nearby jackal

jacaré, Jacareí, jacinth, jack, jack-a-dandy, jackal, jackanapes, “Jack and Jill”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, jack arch, jackaroo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use jackal in a sentence

They exploit a scavenging lifestyle instead, the great jackals of the sea.
Twilight of the Nautilus - Issue 104: Harmony|Peter Ward|August 11, 2021|Nautilus
Sirius also helps you locate two constellations, Canis major and Canis minor, which first emerge during the “dog days” of summer and inspired numerous traditional tales about celestial wolves, foxes, dogs, and jackals.
Everything You Need to Know to Take Your Kids Stargazing|lwhelan|July 18, 2021|Outside Online
He was accused of being a 'jackal' and of drunkenly killing innocents by an Afghan warlord this week.
Lock Up Your Daughters (And Hide The Vodka) - Prince Harry's Headed Home!|Tom Sykes|January 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Their deeper recesses were given up to owls and bats, and nearer the entrance the prowling fox or jackal found a covert.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow

Had he not heard the cry of the "jackal in the desert," so much in keeping with the burning temperature out of doors?
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
The Snake submitted to the test, and when she was covered by the stone the Jackal advised the Man to go away and leave her.
Nights With Uncle Remus|Joel Chandler Harris
But the Man proposed to consult other wise people before being bit, and after a while they met the Jackal.
Nights With Uncle Remus|Joel Chandler Harris
In another Kaffir story, the Jackal runs into a hole under a tree, but the Lion catches him by the tail.
Nights With Uncle Remus|Joel Chandler Harris

British Dictionary definitions for jackal

jackal

/ (ˈdʒækɔːl) /

noun

any of several African or S Asian canine mammals of the genus Canis, closely related to the dog, having long legs and pointed ears and muzzle: predators and carrion-eaters

a person who does menial tasks for another

a villain, esp a swindler

Word Origin for jackal

C17: from Turkish chakāl, from Persian shagāl, from Sanskrit srgāla

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

jackal

COMPARE MEANINGS

Origin of jackal

Words nearby jackal

Words related to jackal

How to use jackal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jackal

Word Origin for jackal