jaguar

noun

jag·​uar ˈja-ˌgwär  -gyə-ˌwär 

-gwər;

dialectal -gwī(-ə)r

especially British ˈja-gyə-wər

plural jaguars also jaguar

: a large cat (Panthera onca) chiefly of Central and South America that is larger and stockier than the leopard and is brownish yellow or buff with black spots

Illustration of jaguar

Did you know?

The jaguar is the largest New World cat. It was once found in wooded regions from the U.S.-Mexican border south to Patagonia, Currently, the jaguar survives, in reduced numbers, only in remote areas of Central and South America; the largest known population is in the Amazon rain forest. The male is 5.5-9.0 ft. (1.7-2.7 m) long, including the tail, which measures 23-35-in. (60-90-cm) long, and weighs 220-350 lbs. (100-160 kg). The coat is typically orange-tan with black spots arranged in rosettes with a black spot in the center. A solitary predator, the jaguar usually hunts rodents, deer, birds, and fish; it will also take cattle, horses, and dogs.

Examples of jaguar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow. —Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026

Husbands suits for him; vintage slip dresses with Fendi eel boots for her Ayahuasca Macro: When ingested in a traditional ceremonial drink with a shaman, users see serpents, jaguars, and occasionally, God. —Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026

Despite their disappearance from Texas, biologists estimate over 5,000 jaguars live in Mexico and have been repeatedly spotted on cameras in Arizona. —Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026

Dry ice streams from an inflatable jaguar head, beyond an excitable DJ and announcers on stilts. —Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi jawára large carnivore

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jaguar

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• ansar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar

Kids Definition

jaguar

noun

jag·​uar ˈjag(-yə)-ˌwär 

: a large yellowish brown black-spotted cat of tropical America that is larger and has a more solid build than the leopard