1
: any of several small omnivorous canids (such as Canis aureus) of Africa and Asia having large ears, long legs, and bushy tails
2
a
: a person who performs routine or menial tasks for another
b
: a person who serves or collaborates with another especially in the commission of base acts
Examples of jackal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are various shots of jackals and spiders having physical contact with Margaret.
—
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
From jackals to hornbills, many grassland animals form a deep bond with their partner
By Devin Farmiloe
The Lion King got one thing right: love is in the air on the savanna.
—Devin Farmiloe, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2024
Other predators visible there include hyenas, cheetahs, and jackals.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2023
Anubis was also known as the guardian of the dead, so mummies were buried with amulets adorned with a jackal.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2023
With astonishing speed, the pack scarfs it down, while warthogs, vultures, and jackals wait in the periphery for the scraps.
—Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2023
The lion and the bull became friends, and the jackals were promoted to the first rank by the grateful monarch.
—Salman Rushdie, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2023
News media showed mountain goats on Welsh sidewalks, jackals in Tel Aviv, daytime raccoons sauntering through Central Park in New York City.
—Carl Safina, TIME, 5 Oct. 2023
And the anonymity of social media has transformed some people into conversational jackals.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 20 June 2023
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
From jackals to hornbills, many grassland animals form a deep bond with their partner
By Devin Farmiloe
The Lion King got one thing right: love is in the air on the savanna.
—Devin Farmiloe, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2024
Other predators visible there include hyenas, cheetahs, and jackals.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2023
Anubis was also known as the guardian of the dead, so mummies were buried with amulets adorned with a jackal.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2023
With astonishing speed, the pack scarfs it down, while warthogs, vultures, and jackals wait in the periphery for the scraps.
—Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2023
The lion and the bull became friends, and the jackals were promoted to the first rank by the grateful monarch.
—Salman Rushdie, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2023
News media showed mountain goats on Welsh sidewalks, jackals in Tel Aviv, daytime raccoons sauntering through Central Park in New York City.
—Carl Safina, TIME, 5 Oct. 2023
And the anonymity of social media has transformed some people into conversational jackals.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 20 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jackal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near jackal
Cite this Entry
“Jackal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackal. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jackal
noun
jack·al
ˈjak-əl 
-ˌȯl
: any of several wild dogs of Africa and Asia like but smaller than the related wolves
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