man-eater
|man-eat-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈmænˌiːtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈmæn.iːtə/
eater of humans
Etymology
'man-eater' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'man' and 'eater', where 'man' ultimately derives from Old English 'mann' meaning 'person, human' and 'eat' derives from Old English 'etan' meaning 'to eat'.
'man-eater' changed from Middle English forms such as 'man-eter' and 'man-eter(e)' and eventually became the modern English compound 'man-eater'.
Initially it referred literally to an animal that eats humans; over time it also developed a figurative sense for a predatory person (especially a woman) who 'preys on' men.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an animal (or very rarely a person) that kills and eats humans; a human-eating predator.
Tigers that become man-eaters are a serious threat to nearby villages.
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Noun 2
informal/figurative: a person (especially a woman) who habitually seduces, exploits, or emotionally harms men; a predatory seductress.
The tabloids called her a man-eater after several high-profile breakups.
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Last updated: 2025/10/13 00:23