panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də 

1

: red panda

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

• A red panda
• B panda 2

Examples of panda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Panda diplomacy Japan’s last two pandas were returned to China this week in a departure that highlights strained relations between the two countries. —Tricia Escobedo, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026

Crowds gathered at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo for emotional goodbyes to Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei during their last public appearance Sunday; their departure leaves the country without pandas for the first time since 1972. —Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026

The shoots are harvested before the plant hardens into the woody stalks that bamboo is famous for — and that pandas chew. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Zoo officials said the panda’s health had declined significantly during the last three weeks after several years of treatment for thyroid issues. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, perhaps from a language of the southeast Himalayas

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing panda

• giant panda
• lesser panda
• panda car
• red panda

Rhymes for panda

• banda
• ganda
• vanda
• aranda
• miranda
• veranda
• verandah
• jacaranda
• memoranda
• propaganda

Kids Definition

panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də 

1

: red panda

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