Illustration of cheetah
plural cheetahs also cheetah
: a long-legged, swift-moving cat (Acinonyx jubatus) about the size of a small leopard with a yellowish to tan coat covered with numerous round to oval black spots and blunt claws that only partially retract and having a current range restricted to Africa and isolated parts of Iran
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A cheetah is a slender, long-legged cat that lives on the plains of Africa and in the Middle East, where it is threatened with extinction. It is the fastest land animal in the world over short distances and can reach a speed of 60 mph (100 kph). Its claws differ from those of other cats in being only partly retractable and lacking protective sheaths. Cheetahs purr rather than roar. Cheetahs grow to about 55 in. (140 cm) long, excluding the 29-31-in. (75-80-cm) tail, and weigh 110-130 lbs. (50-60 kg). Their coarse fur is sandy yellow above, white below, and covered with small black spots; a black streak runs down the face from the corner of each eye.
Examples of cheetah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Read Next Missouri Tiny cheetah quintuplets born at Missouri zoo.
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Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
The key is adopting a cheetah mindset: fast, focused and agile.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
In the picture, Kardashian Barker wears cheetah print pajamas while covering her face.
—Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 3 June 2025
Beyond the sheep and horse, the day’s finds include part of a wolverine and an American cheetah petrosal bone.
—Michael Ray Taylor, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
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Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
The key is adopting a cheetah mindset: fast, focused and agile.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
In the picture, Kardashian Barker wears cheetah print pajamas while covering her face.
—Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 3 June 2025
Beyond the sheep and horse, the day’s finds include part of a wolverine and an American cheetah petrosal bone.
—Michael Ray Taylor, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cheetah
Cite this Entry
“Cheetah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheetah. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cheetah
noun
chee·tah
ˈchēt-ə 
: a long-legged spotted African and formerly Asian cat that is the fastest of all animals on land
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