puma

noun

pu·​ma ˈpü-mə  ˈpyü- 

plural pumas also puma

: cougar sense 1

also : the fur or pelt of a cougar

Synonyms of puma

• panther
• cougar

Examples of puma in a Sentence

adult pumas can sometimes weigh over 200 pounds

Recent Examples on the Web

Panthers are black, pumas are brown, and tigers are? — Kory Stamper, Longreads, 19 Mar. 2026

Thousands of Patagonian penguins are being killed by pumas, though many without being eaten. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026

In 2021, after 17 years of surveys, the project detected pumas in the range for the first time, and there have been multiple sightings since. — Tom Page, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026

The population could go extinct without intervention, and state wildlife officials listed the pumas as threatened earlier this year. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for puma

• duma
• pneuma
• suma
• summa
• uma
• satsuma

Kids Definition

puma

noun

pu·​ma ˈp(y)ü-mə 

plural pumas also puma

: cougar