Feral vs. Wild — What's the Difference?

A feral animal or plant (from Latin: fera, 'a wild beast') is one that lives in the wild but is descended from domesticated specimens. As with an introduced species, the introduction of feral animals or plants to non-native regions may disrupt ecosystems and has, in some cases, contributed to extinction of indigenous species.

(of an animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated

Having returned to an untamed state from domestication

(of a place or region) uninhabited, uncultivated, or inhospitable

Existing in a wild or untamed state.

Lacking discipline or restraint

Of or suggestive of a wild animal; savage

Not based on sound reasoning or probability

Wild, untamed.

(of a playing card) deemed to have any value, suit, colour, or other property in a game at the discretion of the player holding it.

Of an animal, being wild but descended from domestic or captive animals.

A natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region

(of a person) Contemptible, unruly, misbehaved.

Treat (a person or animal) harshly, so that they become untrusting or nervous

Deadly, fatal.

Occurring, growing, or living in a natural state; not domesticated, cultivated, or tamed

Of or pertaining to the dead, funereal.

Not inhabited or farmed

A domesticated animal that has returned to the wild; an animal, particularly a domesticated animal, living independently of humans.

Uncivilized or barbarous.

A contemptible young person, a lout, a person who behaves wildly.

Lacking supervision or restraint

A person who has isolated themselves from the outside world; one living an alternative lifestyle.

Disorderly; unruly

A character in furry art or literature which has the physical characteristics (body) of a regular animal (typically quadripedal), that may or may not be able to communicate with humans or anthros (contrasts anthro)

Characterized by a lack of moral restraint; dissolute or licentious

Wild; untamed; ferine; not domesticated; - said of beasts, birds, and plants.

Lacking regular order or arrangement; disarranged

Funereal; deadly; fatal; dangerous.

Full of, marked by, or suggestive of strong, uncontrolled emotion

Wild and menacing;

Extravagant; fantastic

Furiously disturbed or turbulent; stormy

Risky; imprudent

Impatiently eager

(Informal) Highly enthusiastic

Based on little or no evidence or probability; unfounded

Deviating greatly from an intended course; erratic

(Games) Having an equivalence or value determined by the cardholder's choice

In a wild manner

A natural or undomesticated state

Often wilds A region that is mostly uninhabited or uncultivated

To go about in a group threatening, robbing, or attacking others.

; not domesticated; specifically, in an unbroken line of undomesticated animals (as opposed to feral, referring to undomesticated animals whose ancestors were domesticated).

From or relating to wild creatures.

Unrestrained or uninhibited.

, unruly, or licentious.

(electrical engineering) Of unregulated and varying frequency.

Visibly and overtly anxious; frantic.

; very angry.

, tangled, or untidy.

Very inaccurate; far off the mark.

To the wind and sea; unsheltered.

To steer.

Not capable of being represented as a finite closed polygonal chain.

(slang) Amazing, awesome, unbelievable.

Able to stand in for others, e.g. a card in games, or a text character in computer pattern matching.

Of an audio recording: intended to be synchronized with film or video but recorded separately.

Inaccurately; not on target.

(of an audio recording) Intended to be synchronized with film or video but recorded separately.

The undomesticated state of a wild animal.

A wilderness.

To commit random acts of assault, robbery, and rape in an urban setting, especially as a gang.

(In the form wilding or wildin') To act in a strange or unexpected way.

Living in a state of nature; inhabiting natural haunts, as the forest or open field; not familiar with, or not easily approached by, man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild boar; a wild ox; a wild cat.

Growing or produced without culture; growing or prepared without the aid and care of man; native; not cultivated; brought forth by unassisted nature or by animals not domesticated; as, wild parsnip, wild camomile, wild strawberry, wild honey.

Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land.

Savage; uncivilized; not refined by culture; ferocious; rude; as, wild natives of Africa or America.

Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious; inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary; visionary; crazy.

Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered; as, a wild roadstead.

Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or ewilderment; as, a wild look.

Hard to steer; - said of a vessel.

An uninhabited and uncultivated tract or region; a forest or desert; a wilderness; a waste; as, the wilds of America; the wilds of Africa.

Wildly; as, to talk wild.

A wild primitive state untouched by civilization;

A wild and uninhabited area

Marked by extreme lack of restraint or control;

In a natural state; not tamed or domesticated or cultivated;

In a state of extreme emotion;

Deviating widely from an intended course;

(of colors or sounds) intensely vivid or loud;

Not subjected to control or restraint;

Talking or behaving irrationally;

Produced without being planted or without human labor;

Located in a dismal or remote area; desolate;

Without civilizing influences;

(of the elements) as if showing violent anger;

In an uncontrolled and rampant manner;

In a wild or undomesticated manner;