home range: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (primarily used in ecology/biology)Technical/scientific
Quick answer
What does “home range” mean?
The area where an animal normally lives, moves, and forages, not actively defended as a territory.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The area where an animal normally lives, moves, and forages, not actively defended as a territory.
The geographical area habitually used by an animal, encompassing its regular activities like feeding, mating, and raising young.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally standard in scientific English in both regions.
Connotations
Neutral, scientific.
Frequency
Identical, low-frequency technical term in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “home range” in a Sentence
The [animal] has/occupies a home range of [size].The home range of the [animal] overlaps with...Researchers mapped the home range.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “home range” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The badgers home-range across several neighbouring fields.
- The study aimed to understand how the deer home-range seasonally.
American English
- The coyotes home-range throughout the suburban parklands.
- The collared wolves home-range over an astonishingly large area.
adverb
British English
- The foxes moved home-range-ly, following prey availability. (Very rare/constructed)
American English
- The bears distributed themselves home-range-wide. (Very rare/constructed)
adjective
British English
- Home-range data was collected via GPS collars.
- The home-range analysis revealed significant overlap.
American English
- Home-range size correlates with body mass.
- The home-range boundaries were clearly defined.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Common in ecology, wildlife biology, zoology, and conservation science papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Might appear in nature documentaries.
Technical
Core term with precise methodology for estimation (e.g., kernel density estimation, MCP).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “home range”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “home range”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “home range”
- Using 'home range' interchangeably with 'habitat' (habitat is the type of environment, home range is the specific location).
- Confusing it with 'migratory range'.
- Using it for human activity in non-metaphorical contexts (e.g., 'my home range is the city centre' is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. The home range includes all areas used for all activities (eating, drinking, mating, moving), not just the den or nest site (which is a core part of it).
In a strict biological sense, no. In a metaphorical or sociological sense, one might refer to a person's regular haunts or activity space, but the term is not technically applied to humans.
Yes. Home ranges can change seasonally, with age, reproductive status, food availability, or environmental changes.
Using methods like radio/GPS tracking to record locations, then applying statistical techniques such as Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) or Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) to outline the area.
The area where an animal normally lives, moves, and forages, not actively defended as a territory.
Home range is usually technical/scientific in register.
Home range: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊm ˌreɪndʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊm ˌreɪndʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None; it is a technical compound noun.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'home range' as an animal's neighbourhood – it's where it does its daily business, but it doesn't own or police all the streets.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANIMAL'S LIFE IS A JOURNEY WITHIN A BOUNDED SPACE; RESOURCE USE IS SPATIAL OCCUPANCY.
Practice
Quiz
Which statement best describes the key distinction between a 'home range' and a 'territory' in animal behaviour?