leopard

noun

leop·​ard ˈle-pərd 

1

a

: a large strong cat (Panthera pardus) of southern Asia and Africa that is adept at climbing and is usually tawny or buff with black spots arranged in rosettes

called also panther

b

: the fur or pelt of a leopard

2

: a heraldic representation of a lion passant guardant

Illustration of leopard

• leopard 1

Examples of leopard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The house’s holiday 2026 campaign, lensed by Gordon von Steiner, moves through a hotel washed in deep crimson, with gold dresses, black tuxedos and leopard print appearing almost everywhere else. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026

For years, a leopard roamed the high mountain ridges and deep gorges in the sparsely populated region of southern Armenia. — Eric Niiler, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2026

The woman was attacked while caring for two Persian leopards in an indoor facility at the Beekse Bergen park in the south of the Netherlands. — CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Sabalenka paired a leopard print string top with matching cheeky bottoms as she and a friend posed for sunset selfies on the seashore. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French lepart, leupart, from Late Latin leopardus, from Greek leopardos, from leōn lion + pardos leopard

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing leopard

• a leopard can't change its spots
• clouded leopard
• leopard cat
• leopard frog
• leopard seal
• snow leopard

Rhymes for leopard

• peppered
• shepherd

Kids Definition

leopard

noun

leop·​ard ˈlep-ərd 

: a large strong cat of southern Asia and Africa that has a brownish buff coat with black spots arranged in broken rings

called also panther