What does "jackal" mean?
Any of certain wild canids of the genera Lupulella and Canis, native to the tropical Old World and smaller than a wolf.
Jackal
/ˈd͡ʒækəl/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of certain wild canids of the genera Lupulella and Canis, native to the tropical Old World and smaller than a wolf.
- Grammar: jackal is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: adherent, african golden wolf, african hunting dog, animal.
- Useful contrasts: benefactor, domestic dog, domesticated dog.
- Usage evidence: A cornered fox is more dangerous than a jackal.
How to use "jackal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "jackal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "jackal" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "jackal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "jackal" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "jackal" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adherent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "jackal", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of certain wild canids of the genera Lupulella and Canis, native to the tropical Old World and smaller than a wolf.
"In passing, it also mentions how the jackal and the tiger acquired their reddish spots. All of the animals referred to, except the deer, have tricksterlike personalities, both in this tale and in other story contexts. But the jackal is the most renowned of all for roguishness."
- 2 Old World nocturnal canine mammal closely related to the dog; smaller than a wolf; sometimes hunts in a pack but usually singly or as a member of a pair wordnet
- 3 A person who performs menial or routine tasks; a dogsbody.
"A nephew of hers, after receiving some learning at her ladyship's expence, got a commission, and fell upon the field of Waterloo; another is still at her heels, as a sort of jackall to fetch and carry when required."
- 4 a jackal native to Europe and Asia with a golden coat wordnet
- 5 A person who behaves in an opportunistic way; especially a base collaborator. derogatory
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a canid living in the deserts of Northern Africa related to the golden jackal and the grey wolf wordnet
- 7 A jack (the playing card). rare, slang
- 8 a jackal native to Africa with a black back wordnet
- 9 A player who steals the ball at the tackle.
- 10 a jackal native to Southern Africa with a stripe down its side wordnet
Verb
- 1 To perform menial or routine tasks
"They have jackalled for the great beast, to pick in turns the bones of each other; they have subserved those above, to oppress and defraud those below; and they are suffering, and, so far as classes can, justly suffering their purgation."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"A cornered fox is more dangerous than a jackal."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "jackal"?
Common synonyms include: adherent, african golden wolf, african hunting dog, animal, antelope, apple polisher.
How do you use "jackal" in a sentence?
A cornered fox is more dangerous than a jackal.
How do you pronounce "jackal"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒækəl/.
Etymology
From French chacal, chacale, checale, schakal, ciacale, from Turkish çakal, from Persian شغال (šaġâl), borrowed from Sanskrit शृगाल (śṛgāla, “jackal”).