lion

noun

li·​on ˈlī-ən 

plural lions

1

a

or plural lion : a large heavily built social cat (Panthera leo) of open or rocky areas chiefly of sub-Saharan Africa though once widely distributed throughout Africa and southern Asia that has a tawny body with a tufted tail and a shaggy blackish or dark brown mane in the male

b

: any of several large wildcats

especially : cougar sense 1

c

Lion : leo

2

a

: a person felt to resemble a lion (as in courage or ferocity)

b

: a person of outstanding interest or importance

a literary lion

3

Lion [Lions (club)] : a member of a major national and international service club

lionlike

ˈlī-ən-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms of lion

• magnate
• tycoon
• king
• prince
• lord
• baron
• star
• czar
• monarch

Examples of lion in a Sentence

the roar of the lion

He was a literary lion among the writers of his time.

Recent Examples on the Web

No sword, no Round Table, just world-class shot-making, a lion’s heart and a Centre Court crowd thrilled to rally behind him. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

The brand sells pouches of instant coffee and matcha, which contain 21 vitamins and minerals, and the functional mushrooms lion’s mane and chaga. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

The not-so-obvious irony is that some 20,000 years ago, humans domesticated the wolf as protection from bears and lions. — Steve Searles, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

For the second time in a week, a package believed to be cocaine marked with an image of a lion washed up in the Florida Keys on Wednesday morning, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lioun, from Anglo-French leun, lion, from Latin leon-, leo, from Greek leōn

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lion

• ant lion
• aphid lion
• California sea lion
• golden lion tamarin
• lion's den
• lion's mane
• lion's mane mushroom
• lion's share
• mountain lion
• sea lion

Rhymes for lion

• amphitryon
• dandelion
• herodian
• hawaiian
• ixion
• mauryan
• orion
• procyon
• visayan
• heian
• ion
• mayan

Kids Definition

lion

noun

li·​on ˈlī-ən 

plural lion or lions

: a large flesh-eating mammal of the cat family that has a brownish buff coat, a tufted tail, and in the male a shaggy mane and that lives in open or rocky areas of Africa and formerly southern Asia

lionlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective