life in the wild—(of animals and birds) life in an undomesticated free state in their natural surroundings:
- Even as Buck is increasingly drawn to a life away from humanity, a life in the wild, his affection for Thornton keeps him from making the final break.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound wildlife—wild animals and birds living in a natural undomesticated state:
- We showed the photos of the animal to locals who know the wildlife of the area, but nobody had ever seen this creature before.
life in the wilderness—life in a mostly uninhabited area in its natural state, such as a forest or mountainous region:
- The story tells of a modern-day pioneer who becomes bored with the troubles of city life and heads for life in the wilderness.