jackal
C1Formal, Literary, Zoological
Definition
Meaning
A medium-sized wild canine, typically with a yellowish-brown coat, known for scavenging and opportunistic hunting.
A person who performs dishonest or menial tasks for another; a servile follower or accomplice. Used metaphorically to describe opportunistic, cunning, or subservient behavior.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning is zoological. The metaphorical meaning is often pejorative, implying cunning, servility, or moral compromise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The metaphorical sense is slightly more common in UK political/journalistic discourse.
Connotations
Both regions share the core zoological and negative metaphorical connotations. The animal is often associated with desolate, arid landscapes.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; higher in nature/wildlife contexts and literary/political metaphor.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The/Adj] jackal [verb] ...He is a jackal [for/of] [person/group]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “jackals of the same lair (rare, implies shared disreputable behavior)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly used metaphorically for an unethical competitor or subordinate.
Academic
Common in zoology, ecology, biology. Rare in other fields, except as a literary metaphor.
Everyday
Very low frequency. Mostly in nature documentaries or specific cultural references.
Technical
Zoological classification: Genus *Canis* (golden jackal) or *Lupulella*/*Lupulella* (other species).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The jackal's eerie cry echoed across the savanna at dusk.
- He was nothing more than a political jackal, doing his master's dirty work.
American English
- A lone jackal scavenged near the edge of the desert highway.
- The corrupt mayor was surrounded by jackals who profited from his schemes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The jackal is a wild animal.
- I saw a jackal on TV.
- Jackals often live in small family groups.
- In the story, the character was called a jackal because he was sneaky.
- The golden jackal's range has been expanding northwards in Europe due to climate change.
- The journalist accused the lobbyists of being jackals, preying on the government's weaknesses.
- His reputation as the minister's jackal ensured he was feared but never respected.
- The film used the imagery of jackals circling to foreshadow the protagonist's impending betrayal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Jack' (a common name) + 'all' → 'Jack steals all' like a scavenger. Or, a 'jackal' is a 'lackey' (both imply servile behavior).
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE ANIMALS (specifically, immoral/opportunistic people are jackals).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'шакал' (shakal) – it is a direct translation with identical zoological and negative metaphorical meanings.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'jakal' is incorrect.
- Pronunciation: Mispronouncing the first syllable as /jæk/ like 'yak'. It is /dʒæk/.
- Overusing the metaphorical sense in neutral contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In its metaphorical sense, 'jackal' primarily implies:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are different species within the Canidae family. Jackals are Old World animals (Africa, Asia, SE Europe), coyotes are New World (North America), and foxes are a distinct vulpine lineage found worldwide.
Almost never in modern English. Its zoological meaning is neutral, but its metaphorical use is consistently negative, implying cunning, servility, or immoral opportunism.
Extremely rare and non-standard. The word is almost exclusively a noun.
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is the most widespread species, found from Southeastern Europe to South Asia.