predation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic, Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “predation” mean?
The preying of one animal on others.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The preying of one animal on others; the action of attacking and consuming another organism for food.
The act of exploiting, plundering, or victimizing others, often in a financial, social, or corporate context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. Both use the same spelling.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American academic (especially business/economics) contexts when used figuratively.
Grammar
How to Use “predation” in a Sentence
N + of + N (predation of wolves on deer)N + by + N (predation by large corporations)under + N (under predation from)subject to + N (subject to predation)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “predation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The owls predate mainly on voles.
- The invasive species began to predate upon the native insects.
American English
- Wolves predate on elk in the national park.
- The new policy could predate on vulnerable consumers.
adverb
British English
- The shark swam predatorily through the shoal.
- The corporation acted predatorily to eliminate competition.
American English
- The hawk looked down predatorily from its perch.
- The firm expanded predatorily, buying out rivals.
adjective
British English
- The predatory behaviour was documented.
- They faced a predatory takeover bid.
American English
- The bird has sharp, predatory talons.
- He was accused of predatory lending practices.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes aggressive, exploitative practices by dominant companies, e.g., 'The board condemned the market predation by the conglomerate.'
Academic
Common in ecology, biology, economics, and sociology to describe biological interactions or exploitative social/economic behaviour.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. May appear in nature documentaries or news about corporate misconduct.
Technical
A precise term in ecology for a biological interaction where one organism kills and eats another.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “predation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “predation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “predation”
- Confusing 'predation' with 'predicament' (a difficult situation).
- Mispronouncing as /priːˈdeɪʃən/ (long 'e').
- Using it as a verb (it is a noun; the verb is 'predate').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In biology, they are very similar, but 'predation' is a more specific scientific term that includes the killing and consuming. 'Hunting' can be done by humans for sport or food, not necessarily consumption by the hunter.
Yes, it is commonly used figuratively in economics, business, and sociology to describe the exploitative actions of powerful entities (e.g., companies, individuals) against weaker ones.
Predation typically involves the predator killing and consuming the prey relatively quickly. Parasitism involves a longer-term relationship where the parasite lives on or in a host, harming it but not immediately killing it.
Yes, the related verb is 'to predate' (on/upon something). However, be careful not to confuse it with the verb 'predate' meaning 'to occur at an earlier date'.
The preying of one animal on others.
Predation is usually academic, formal, technical in register.
Predation: in British English it is pronounced /prɪˈdeɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /prəˈdeɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PREDATOR in ACTION. Pre-Date-ion: The act that happens before something is dated (eaten) by a predator.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS/COMPETITION IS PREDATION (e.g., 'corporate predators', 'feeding on smaller companies').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'predation' LEAST likely to be used?