bobcat

1 of 2

noun

bob·​cat ˈbäb-ˌkat How to pronounce bobcat (audio)
: a common North American lynx (Lynx rufus) reddish in base color with dark markings

Illustration of bobcat

Illustration of bobcat

Bobcat

2 of 2

trademark

used for a small 4-wheeled or tracklaying work vehicle (as for excavating or for lifting and moving loads)

Examples of bobcat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Larger predators—coyotes, bobcats, black bears, and copperhead snakes—would follow. Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 5 June 2025 Sure enough, the next day, the camera recorded an adult bobcat slinking back to the site. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2025 Wildlife biologists in Florida documented a bobcat raiding a python nest back in 2021. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025 Hikers stumbled across a baby bobcat along a New Mexico trail on Mother’s Day, officials said. Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bobcat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

bob entry 4; from the stubby tail

First Known Use

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bobcat was in 1859

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bobcat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bobcat. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

bobcat

noun
bob·​cat ˈbäb-ˌkat How to pronounce bobcat (audio)
: a common usually rusty-colored North American lynx with dark spots

More from Merriam-Webster on bobcat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!