mammal
noun
mam·mal ˈma-məl 
: any of a class (Mammalia) of warm-blooded higher vertebrates (such as placentals, marsupials, or monotremes) that nourish their young with milk secreted by mammary glands, have the skin usually more or less covered with hair, and include humans
mammalian
mə-ˈmā-lē-ən
adjective or noun ma-
mammal-like
ˈma-məl-ˌlīk
adjective or less commonly mammallike
mammal-like behavior
mammallike reptiles
Example Sentences
Human beings, dogs, and cats are all mammals.
Recent Examples on the Web The 13-foot white mammal was successfully lifted out of the river, where its surprising presence had drawn international attention and mounting concerns for its health. 
Elizabeth Kuhr, NBC News, 10 Aug. 2022 Dolly was the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult somatic cell, which is any type of bodily cell that is not a reproductive germ cell. Bill Frist, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Pangolins are believed to be the most trafficked mammal in the world, per the WWF. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 July 2022 The slowest mammal in the world is the three-toed sloth. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2022 The autopsy confirmed that the dead marine mammal was male and 4 years old. Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 July 2022 Fabiano told the outlet that Brogna wanted to get as far away from the giant mammal as possible. Julia Musto, Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 The ocean mammal was spotted in the same area again on Friday morning. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 19 July 2022 Legal battles have erupted among the lobster industry, interest groups, and the federal government over protecting the mammal. Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 July 2022 See More
Elizabeth Kuhr, NBC News, 10 Aug. 2022 Dolly was the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult somatic cell, which is any type of bodily cell that is not a reproductive germ cell. Bill Frist, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Pangolins are believed to be the most trafficked mammal in the world, per the WWF. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 July 2022 The slowest mammal in the world is the three-toed sloth. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2022 The autopsy confirmed that the dead marine mammal was male and 4 years old. Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 July 2022 Fabiano told the outlet that Brogna wanted to get as far away from the giant mammal as possible. Julia Musto, Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 The ocean mammal was spotted in the same area again on Friday morning. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 19 July 2022 Legal battles have erupted among the lobster industry, interest groups, and the federal government over protecting the mammal. Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
from base of New Latin Mammalia (Linnaeus), class name, noun derivative from neuter plural of mammālis, from Latin mamma "breast, udder" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at mamma
First Known Use
1811, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
mammal
noun
mam·mal ˈma-məl
: a warm-blooded animal (as a dog, mouse, bear, whale, or human being) with a backbone that feeds its young with milk produced by the mother and has skin usually more or less covered with hair
Medical Definition
mammal
noun
mam·mal ˈmam-əl
: any of the higher vertebrate animals comprising the class Mammalia