predator
B2Formal, technical, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
An animal that naturally hunts and kills other animals for food.
A person or group that ruthlessly exploits or victimizes others, e.g., in business, online, or crime.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning is zoological, but the extended metaphorical meaning is extremely common in social, business, and legal contexts, always carrying a strong negative connotation of exploitation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. 'Predator' is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identically negative connotations in both social and biological contexts.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[predator] of [prey][prey] for [predator]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nature red in tooth and claw (describing a predatory environment)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a company or individual that aggressively takes over others or exploits market weaknesses, e.g., 'The firm acted as a corporate predator, buying up struggling competitors.'
Academic
Common in biology and ecology to describe species interactions; also in sociology, law, and economics for human exploitation.
Everyday
Most commonly used for dangerous animals (sharks, lions) and for people who exploit others, especially in phrases like 'online predator'.
Technical
In ecology: an organism that obtains energy by consuming other living organisms. In law: a person committing predatory lending or assault.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'To predator' is not a standard verb. Use 'prey on' or 'hunt'.
American English
- 'To predator' is not a standard verb. Use 'prey upon' or 'hunt'.
adverb
British English
- 'Predatorily' is extremely rare and awkward. Use 'in a predatory manner'.
- The loan was structured predatorily to trap the borrower.
American English
- 'Predatorily' is rarely used. 'Like a predator' is more natural.
- He watched predatorily from the shadows.
adjective
British English
- Predatory behaviour is a serious concern.
- The company was accused of predatory lending practices.
American English
- The hawk has a predatory instinct.
- Laws exist to prevent predatory pricing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Lions are predators. They hunt zebras.
- The eagle is a bird predator.
- Without natural predators, the deer population grew too large.
- Parents worry about online predators.
- The documentary focused on the delicate balance between predator and prey in the ecosystem.
- The prosecutor described the accused as a cunning sexual predator.
- The journalist investigated the predatory tactics used by some payday loan companies.
- In the corporate jungle, he was considered an apex predator, ruthlessly acquiring smaller firms.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PREY-ator. A PREDATOR is the one that makes others its PREY.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION / EXPLOITATION IS PREDATION (e.g., 'predatory pricing', 'corporate predators').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'хищник' in all contexts. While 'хищник' is neutral for animals, 'predator' has a stronger, more dangerous connotation in English. In human contexts, 'predator' is always negative, whereas 'хищник' can sometimes be used metaphorically in a neutral or even positive business context ('бизнес-хищник').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'predator' to describe a herbivore that is merely large or dangerous (e.g., a hippo is not a predator in the core sense). Confusing 'predator' with 'scavenger'. Using it in a positive or admiring way for humans is highly unusual and marked.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'predator' most likely imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in the strict biological sense. A predator kills its own food, while a scavenger primarily eats already dead animals (carrion).
Almost never for people. For animals, it can be neutral/descriptive ('Lions are efficient predators'). Using it for a successful sportsperson or businessperson is highly metaphorical and carries a negative, ruthless connotation.
'Hunter' can be a human who hunts for sport or food and can be neutral. 'Predator' is a biological category and, for humans, implies a malicious, exploitative intent. All predators are hunters, but not all hunters (e.g., humans hunting for food) are described as 'predators' in common parlance.
The adjective is 'predatory' (e.g., predatory animal, predatory behaviour).