adj · noun · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈfɛɹəl/
[ˈfɛɹəl] ~ [ˈfɛɹl̩]
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˈfɪəɹəl/
[ˈfɪɹəl] ~ [ˈfɪɹl̩]
rhymes with -ɛɹəl
rhymes with -ɪəɹəl
homophone: ferrule
homophone: ferryl
homophone: Farrell (Mary–marry–merry merger)
CMU ARPABET:F EH1 R AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Wild; untamed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
1876 Statistical, Descriptive, And Historical Account Of The North-Western Provinces Of India. Allahabad: North-Western Provinces' Government Press 1876. p XIV, Agra Division The spotted deer, in a truly feral state, has very much the same distribution in Bundelkhand as the sambar, but it is more numerous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adj
Meaning 8
Of or pertaining to the dead, funereal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
A domesticated (non-human) animal that has returned to the wild; an animal, particularly a domesticated animal, living independently of humans.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A contemptible young person, a lout, a person who behaves wildly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, colloquial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
A person who has isolated themselves from the outside world; one living an alternative lifestyle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, colloquial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
A furry character in art or literature which has the appearance of a regular animal (typically quadrupedal), that may or may not be able to communicate with humans or "anthros".
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Topics: lifestyle
Examples
The story is about a group of ferals which have to explore the ruins of society after the humans die out.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: anthro
13
noun
Meaning 13
Misspelling of ferrule.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, misspelling
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
adjective satellite
Meaning 14
wild and menacing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a pack of feral dogs
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ferine, savage
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin fera (“wild beast”, noun) + -al or Latin ferus (“wild; savage; cruel”, adjective) + -al. Alternatively, borrowed from Middle French féral or Late Latin ferālis.
From Latin fērālis (“funereal”), from Proto-Indo-European *dhéh1s (“god, sacred place”).
Homophone.
Across languages
Translations
50 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
див
(div)
— wild or untamed
Bulgarian:
неопитомен
(neopitomen)
— wild or untamed
Chinese Mandarin:
野生的
(yěshēng de)
— wild or untamed
Czech:
zdivočelý
— wild or untamed
Czech:
divoký
— wild or untamed
Dutch:
verwilderd
— wild or untamed
Dutch:
wild
— wild or untamed
Dutch:
ongetemd
— wild or untamed
Finnish:
villi
— wild or untamed
Finnish:
villiintynyt
— wild or untamed
French:
féral
— wild or untamed
French:
marron
— wild or untamed
French:
haret
— wild or untamed
Galician:
bravo
— wild or untamed
Galician:
salvaxe
— wild or untamed
Galician:
asilvestrado
— wild or untamed
Georgian:
გაველურებული
(gavelurebuli)
— wild or untamed
