is an organism that evolved to live near humans and benefit from human settlements and their environmental modifications

The term includes many animals and plants regarded as pests or weeds, but does not include domesticated species. Common synanthrope habitats include houses, sheds and barns, non-building structures, gardens, parks, farms, road verges and rubbish dumps.

Examples of synanthropes are various species of insects (ants, lice, bedbugs, silverfish, cockroaches, etc.), myriapods (millipedes and centipedes, notably the house centipede), arachnids (spiders, dust mite, etc.), common house gecko, birds such as house sparrows, gulls, rock doves (pigeons), crows and magpies, honeyguides, swallows and other passerines, various rodent species (especially rats and house mice), Virginia opossums, raccoons, certain monkey species, coyotes, deer, and other urban wildlife.

The brown rat is counted as one of the most prominent synanthropic animals and can be found in almost every place there are people.