panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də How to pronounce panda (audio)
1
2
: a large black-and-white mammal (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) of chiefly central China that feeds primarily on bamboo shoots and is now usually classified with the bears (family Ursidae)

called also giant panda

Illustration of panda

Illustration of panda
  • A red panda
  • B panda 2

Examples of panda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Following his appearance on Disney+ series American Born Chinese, Hong is reprising his voice role as Chinese goose Mr. Ping, adoptive father to Jack Black’s panda Po, in Kung Fu Panda 4, in theaters now. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Less than a month later, San Diego Wildlife Alliance officials announced a panda loan agreement had been signed. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 The fourth film again follows the adventures of Black’s martial arts panda character, Po, and features an all-star voice cast including Viola Davis, Awkwafina, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston and Ke Huy Quan. Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Mar. 2024 For example, the panda group found that how the animal moved influenced the effect. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024 China will send new pandas to the U.S. Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 As relations between the United States and China have soured in recent years, Beijing has been making its unhappiness known by recalling its softest power: pandas. Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 China has been lending pandas to the U.S. for more than five decades as a sign of goodwill between the countries, but doubts about the future of the loans grew after several pandas were returned to China in the past few years. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 The last pandas to live at the zoo, Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu, returned to China in 2019 after the zoo's panda loan agreement concluded. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'panda.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, perhaps from a language of the southeast Himalayas

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of panda was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near panda

Cite this Entry

“Panda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panda. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

panda

noun
pan·​da ˈpan-də How to pronounce panda (audio)
1
2
: a large black and white mammal of chiefly central China that feeds primarily on bamboo shoots and is now usually considered to be closely related to the bears

called also giant panda

More from Merriam-Webster on panda

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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