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Glite Dictionary
exotic pet

exotic pet

3 4.4
An animal from another country that people keep in their home for company, like a snake or parrot
  • noun
  • /ɪɡˈzɑːtɪk pɛt/
translation icon : mascota exótica
  • If you have some other kind of exotic pet, you will need to find a vet that specializes in exotic pets before they really need to be seen by one too.
  • exotic pet owner
  • exotic pet store
  • exotic pet trade

Examples

  • The pop-up pet shelter will offer free boarding and veterinary care for as many as 700 dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets that were uprooted like their owners because of Hurricane Sandy.

    Blog text (31)

  • No one knows exactly how many exotic pets live in the United States or how many foreign animals are brought into the country every year.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Some people who keep exotic pets need to travel a long way just to find the right care for their pets.

    Blog text (9)

  • Exotic pets may escape or be released when they have outlived their novelty and become established in their new home.

    Academic text (2004)

  • I listened with special interest because I have an exotic pet of my own: a Green-cheeked Parakeet, whose great-grandparents probably roamed the cloud forests of Bolivia, Brazil, or Argentina.

    Blog text (2)

  • Many people keep exotic pets like parrots and iguanas instead of traditional cats and dogs.

  • Owning an exotic pet can be a unique experience, as these animals often have special needs.

  • She often shares photos of her exotic pets, including a tarantula and a hedgehog, on social media.

Synonyms

pet
vsexotic pet
754 1.0

An animal kept at home for company and enjoyment

is an uncommon or non-native animal kept at home rather than a domesticated companion

Antonyms

domestic animal
3 1.6

An animal that people keep and breed to live with them like a cow or dog

How Exotic

exotic pet
3 4.4

Surface Forms

exotic pet singular
exotic pets plural

Morphology

exotic + pet

The meaning 'an animal that is unusual or not native kept as a pet' is directly derived from combining 'exotic' (unusual/foreign) with 'pet' (a domesticated animal kept for companionship). This compositional pattern is regular and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Exotic pet comes from the idea of keeping animals brought from faraway places. Imagine a bright parrot or a snake from another country living in your home. These exotic pets are not the usual dog or cat, so the phrase means 'an unusual or not native animal kept at home'.