leopard

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

leopardess

2 of 2

noun (2)

leop·​ard·​ess ˈle-pər-dəs 

: a female leopard

Examples of leopard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Instead of just focusing on the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo, people want to see other animals including wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, hippos, and over 500 species of birds. —Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Those get-up change-ups included myriad sequin retro coats (a leopard one at the start of the show), culminating in his red suit from the 1980s. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 June 2026

Noun

Altuna snapped the moment a leopardess killed a baboon and walked off with the primate's living baby still holding on in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Heads of Tails? —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 13 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

1567, in the meaning defined above

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