spotted hyena: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowformal, technical
Quick answer
What does “spotted hyena” mean?
A large, carnivorous mammal native to Africa, characterized by its spotted coat and complex social structure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, carnivorous mammal native to Africa, characterized by its spotted coat and complex social structure.
Symbolically represents scavenging, opportunism, or matriarchal societies in cultural and metaphorical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in spelling or usage; both dialects use the term identically in scientific and common contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both, with associations to African wildlife, scavenging, and distinctive vocalizations.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech but common in educational, documentary, and academic materials.
Grammar
How to Use “spotted hyena” in a Sentence
The spotted hyena [verb] e.g., hunts, scavengesA group of spotted hyenas is called a clanVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spotted hyena” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We spotted a hyena during our safari in the Serengeti.
American English
- We spotted a hyena on our wildlife tour in the Maasai Mara.
adverb
British English
- The hyena was observed spottedly in the field, though this usage is rare.
American English
- The hyena moved spottedly through the grass, an uncommon adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The spotted coat of the hyena offers excellent camouflage in the bush.
American English
- The spotted fur of the hyena helps it blend into the savanna landscape.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in eco-tourism, wildlife trade, or conservation funding discussions.
Academic
Common in biology, zoology, ecology, and anthropology research papers.
Everyday
Infrequent; typically in conversations about animals, wildlife documentaries, or travel stories.
Technical
Standard term in wildlife biology, conservation science, and veterinary studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spotted hyena”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spotted hyena”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spotted hyena”
- Misspelling as 'spoted hyena', confusing with 'striped hyena', or mispronouncing 'hyena' as 'high-eena'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are native to sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting savannas, grasslands, and woodlands.
They are carnivores and scavengers, feeding on a variety of prey including antelopes, and often consuming carrion.
Currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but populations are declining due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
Due to their vocalizations, such as whoops and giggles, that resemble human laughter, especially during social interactions.
A large, carnivorous mammal native to Africa, characterized by its spotted coat and complex social structure.
Spotted hyena is usually formal, technical in register.
Spotted hyena: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɒtɪd haɪˈiːnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɑːtɪd haɪˈiːnə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “laugh like a hyena”
- “hyena's laugh”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'spotted' for the dots on its coat and 'hyena' for its famous laugh, helping recall the animal's appearance and sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often used as a metaphor for scavenging, opportunism, or social cunning in human contexts.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of the spotted hyena?