culling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “culling” mean?
The selective removal or killing of a portion of a group (typically animals) to reduce numbers or improve quality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The selective removal or killing of a portion of a group (typically animals) to reduce numbers or improve quality.
The process of selecting and removing unwanted or inferior items from a collection, group, or dataset.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more frequent in UK English in wildlife management contexts. The verb 'to cull' is used identically.
Connotations
Both varieties share the same core connotations of selective, often sanctioned, killing. Can be equally controversial in public discourse.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects. The term is specialist but widely understood.
Grammar
How to Use “culling” in a Sentence
cull something (from something)cull something (to reduce/increase something)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “culling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council is culling the urban fox population due to public health concerns.
- She spent the weekend culling her extensive book collection.
American English
- Wildlife officials are culling the deer herd to prevent overgrazing.
- We need to cull outdated files from the server.
adverb
British English
- The herd was managed cullingly, but effectively. (Rare/Formal)
American English
- (Adverbial use is exceptionally rare and not standard. Use phrases like 'through culling' instead.)
adjective
British English
- The culling operation faced strong opposition from animal rights groups.
- A culling programme was implemented for invasive species.
American English
- The culling process was documented by environmental researchers.
- Culling efforts focused on the oldest and sickest animals.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The data culling process removed redundant customer records from the database.
Academic
The study evaluated the ecological impact of annual seal culling in the North Atlantic.
Everyday
I'm culling my old clothes to make space in the wardrobe.
Technical
The software performs automatic culling of low-quality reads in the genomic sequence.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “culling”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “culling”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “culling”
- Using 'culling' for random or indiscriminate killing (e.g., 'the culling in the war').
- Misspelling as 'culling' (double L).
- Using as a direct synonym for 'reducing' without the selective aspect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most literal and common use is in wildlife/population management, it is widely used metaphorically for selecting and removing any unwanted items (e.g., data, files, ideas).
'Cull' implies a selective, systematic process, often for a specific purpose like population control or quality improvement. 'Kill' is a broader, more general term for causing death.
Yes, in contexts like management, conservation, or data hygiene, it can be seen as a necessary and positive action for the health of the whole system (e.g., 'culling invasive species protects native ones', 'culling outdated data improves efficiency').
Not commonly. The animal is typically referred to as 'an animal that has been culled' or 'a culled animal'. The focus is on the process, not the individual.
The selective removal or killing of a portion of a group (typically animals) to reduce numbers or improve quality.
Culling is usually formal/technical in register.
Culling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌl.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌl.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cull the herd”
- “A necessary cull”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a farmer calling out (sounds like 'cull-ing') which animals to take from the full ing (herd).
Conceptual Metaphor
PRUNING A TREE (removing parts to improve the health of the whole).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'culling' used most appropriately?