'wildlife' originates from the combination of 'wild' and 'life', where 'wild' meant 'living or growing in the natural environment' and 'life' referred to 'living beings'.

'wildlife' evolved from the Old English word 'wild' and 'lif', eventually becoming the modern English word 'wildlife'.

Initially, it referred to 'living beings in the wild', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.