What does predatory mean?
Predatory describes behavior involving hunting, capturing, and preying on other organisms, as in predatory birds or predatory insects. The word is also used figuratively for actions that exploit or endanger others, especially in contexts such as predatory lending, predatory advertising, and predatory business practices. Its negative force is stronger than that of hunting or raiding because it suggests a calculated attempt to gain from victims who are weaker, unsuspecting, or unable to resist. In ordinary conversation, “predatory” is more common when describing animals, while the figurative sense usually carries criticism or disapproval.
adjectivePredatory means relating to or displaying the behavior of an animal that hunts and kills other animals for food. It can also describe exploitative conduct aimed at obtaining money, resources, or advantage from others.
- Relating to animals that hunt and kill other animals for food, or describing their characteristic behavior.
- Characterized by exploitation, deception, or an aggressive attempt to obtain another person's money, resources, or advantage.
"The hawk displayed the patient, predatory behavior typical of a hunting bird."
"Predatory birds such as hawks and falcons use their talons to seize prey."
"The company faced criticism for its predatory pricing practices."
Predatory comes from the Latin word for a plunderer, a fitting root for a term that can describe both a hunting animal and an exploitative business practice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does predatory come from?
Predatory comes from the Latin praedatorius, meaning “of or like a plunderer” or “preying,” and ultimately from praedator, a hunter or robber. The related English words predator, predation, and predate developed through the same Latin root. English has used predatory in both its literal zoological sense and its figurative sense of exploitative conduct for several centuries.
How predatory is actually used
In its literal sense, predatory usually describes animals, insects, or their behavior. In figurative use, it is often strongly critical and suggests exploitation, unfairness, or an attempt to profit at someone else's expense.
Easily confused with predatory
A predator is an animal or other organism that hunts and preys on other organisms, whereas predatory is the adjective describing such behavior or practices.