noun
Refers to an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal. Often used in the phrase 餌食になる (to become prey).
ライオンはシマウマを餌食にした。
The lion made the zebra its prey.
小魚は大きな魚の餌食になる。
Small fish become prey for larger fish.
noun
Used figuratively for a person who falls victim to a crime, scam, or misfortune. Often appears as 餌食になる.
彼は詐欺の餌食になった。
He fell victim to a scam.
多くの人がその悪質商法の餌食になった。
Many people became victims of that fraudulent business practice.
Compound of 餌 (esa, 'bait, food for animals') and 食 (shoku, 'eating'). The reading えじき is a rendaku form of えしょく.