What does hunter mean?
A hunter is someone who pursues and kills or captures wild animals, often for sport, food, or practical reasons such as controlling dangerous or invasive species. The word can also refer to a determined person seeking a person, object, or objective, and the verb “to hunt” follows a parallel pattern: it may describe pursuing animals or searching persistently for a solution, opportunity, or person. In contemporary use, “hunter” can suggest skill, persistence, and focus, but it may also carry a less flattering implication of relentless or single-minded pursuit, especially when applied to people. The term is used in both British and American English and appears in established compounds such as “bounty hunter,” “big-game hunter,” and “head hunter.” Its figurative uses are especially productive, allowing ordinary actions such as hiring, shopping, or troubleshooting to be described as forms of hunting.
A person who hunts wild animals, especially for sport, food, or the control of harmful species.
"The hunter tracked a deer along the mountain ridge."
The figurative sense is a person who persistently pursues a person, object, or objective.
To search for or pursue a person, animal, or thing, especially with persistence.
"Detectives continued to hunt for the missing man."
The verb can also mean to pursue wild animals for sport or food.
The regular plural is used for both people who hunt animals and figurative people who pursue a person or objective.
"The hunters returned before sunset with their prey."
A hunter may seek game, but the word can also describe someone relentless in pursuing a goal, objective, or person.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hunter come from?
Hunter derives from the Old English huntian, meaning “to seek or pursue,” especially in pursuit of game. The related noun hunt developed from the same Germanic roots, while the verb haunt ultimately derives from a separate Old French borrowing of Germanic origin. The word has long referred both to people who pursue animals and, by extension, to people who search for a person or thing.
Related word forms
How hunter is actually used
The noun is neutral in general use. In its traditional sense, it often refers to someone who pursues game for sport or food; in the broader metaphorical sense, it can suggest determined or persistent pursuit, sometimes with an implication of single-mindedness. The verb is commonly transitive but can also be used intransively, as in “they hunted at dawn.”
Easily confused with hunter
A hunter pursues or searches for prey, while hunted refers to the person or animal being pursued.