What does predator mean?
A predator is an animal that hunts other animals for food, such as a hawk, wolf, or shark. The term can also describe a person who exploits, deceives, or takes advantage of others, especially when doing so causes harm. Predators are often organized around the relationship between hunter and prey, and the idea extends to any powerful creature or force that threatens a weaker one. In figurative use, calling someone a predator emphasizes persistent predatory behavior rather than a single harmful act. The word is common in both British and American English. It appears in expressions such as “apex predator” and “predator-prey relationship,” where it refers to an animal at the top of a food chain or to the broader ecological relationship between hunters and their prey.
An animal that hunts, kills, and feeds on other animals.
"The cheetah is a fast predator that hunts mainly at night."
Often used to describe an animal at the top of a food chain, but it can refer to any hunting animal.
A person who exploits, deceives, or victimizes others.
"The court described the defendant as a financial predator who targeted elderly investors."
This figurative use is strongly negative and is especially common in reporting and legal contexts.
A person or thing regarded as dangerous or threatening.
"The company warned that cybercriminals were becoming an increasingly sophisticated predator."
This sense is less common than the animal and person senses and is usually figurative.
The plural is used for multiple hunting animals or multiple people or organizations that exploit others.
"Natural predators help regulate the size of the rabbit population."
A predator can mean a dangerous hunter in the wild—or, figuratively, someone who profits by exploiting the vulnerable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does predator come from?
The word comes from Latin praedator, meaning “plunderer” or “one who seizes by force,” from praedari, “to plunder” or “to seize.” English borrowed the word in the early 16th century for an animal that hunts other animals. Its extended sense for an exploitative person developed later. Related English words include predation, predatory, and predaceous.
Related word forms
How predator is actually used
In its literal sense, predator usually refers to an animal that preys on other animals. Its figurative sense can be strongly critical and is commonly used in political, legal, and social contexts.