A jackal is a wild dog-like animal found mostly in Africa and parts of Asia. It looks like a slim coyote, feeds on small animals and scraps, and is known for its sharp night-time howl.
In everyday English, people sometimes call a sneaky or opportunistic person a “jackal,” especially when that person hangs around waiting to take advantage of someone else’s work or misfortune. You might hear, “Those jackals at the office swooped in and took credit for the project.”
Meaning & Usage Examples
Literal: “We heard jackals yipping outside the safari tent.”
Figurative: “The paparazzi were like jackals chasing the celebrity’s car.”
Context / Common Use
The word shows up in news stories about politics (“political jackals”), in movies set in the desert, and in everyday complaints about people who leech off others’ success.
Is a jackal the same as a coyote?
No. They are cousins, but jackals live in Africa and Asia, while coyotes live in North America.
Why do people use “jackal” as an insult?
Because jackals scavenge and follow larger predators, the name paints someone as sneaky and opportunistic.
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