Illustration of cheetah
plural cheetahs also cheetah
: a long-legged, swift-moving cat (Acinonyx jubatus) about the size of a small leopard with a yellowish to tan coat covered with numerous round to oval black spots and blunt claws that only partially retract and having a current range restricted to Africa and isolated parts of Iran
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A cheetah is a slender, long-legged cat that lives on the plains of Africa and in the Middle East, where it is threatened with extinction. It is the fastest land animal in the world over short distances and can reach a speed of 60 mph (100 kph). Its claws differ from those of other cats in being only partly retractable and lacking protective sheaths. Cheetahs purr rather than roar. Cheetahs grow to about 55 in. (140 cm) long, excluding the 29-31-in. (75-80-cm) tail, and weigh 110-130 lbs. (50-60 kg). Their coarse fur is sandy yellow above, white below, and covered with small black spots; a black streak runs down the face from the corner of each eye.
Examples of cheetah in a Sentence
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For decades, a safari in Kenya meant early morning game drives across the vast plains of the Masai Mara in search of leopards, lions and cheetah.
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Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Sprawled across 163 acres of Rock Creek Park, the zoo is home to 2,700 animals such as giant pandas, elephants, alpacas, pythons, cheetahs, gorillas, and more.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Camila Mendes wears a bold cheetah print gown to the Berlin premiere of Masters of the Universe on May 28.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Experts are particularly concerned about the safety of the cheetahs, as no extant cheetah populations coexist with tigers in the wild.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 June 2026
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Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Sprawled across 163 acres of Rock Creek Park, the zoo is home to 2,700 animals such as giant pandas, elephants, alpacas, pythons, cheetahs, gorillas, and more.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Camila Mendes wears a bold cheetah print gown to the Berlin premiere of Masters of the Universe on May 28.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Experts are particularly concerned about the safety of the cheetahs, as no extant cheetah populations coexist with tigers in the wild.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheetah
Cite this Entry
“Cheetah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheetah. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cheetah
noun
chee·tah
ˈchēt-ə 
: a long-legged spotted African and formerly Asian cat that is the fastest of all animals on land
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