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
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For her part, Kylie Jenner is doubling down on polka dots, while Dua Lipa has been adding lace, studs, and sparkly cheetah print to the equation.
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Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 5 July 2025
That lifelong partnership was born aboard a cruise ship in 1959; Fischbacher was a steward and a part-time magician on the Bremen, while Roy Horn, an animal lover who would later smuggle a cheetah on board for a magic act, worked as a bellboy.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 June 2025
The look: The Wild Side The design: The obvious go-to animal prints in this category are leopard and zebra, although snakeskin and tiger certainly make plenty of appearances, as well (and sure, probably cheetah, too).
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
Check out the gators at Alligator Aisle, or the 2-year-old cheetah cubs at Cheetah Creek.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 25 May 2025
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Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 5 July 2025
That lifelong partnership was born aboard a cruise ship in 1959; Fischbacher was a steward and a part-time magician on the Bremen, while Roy Horn, an animal lover who would later smuggle a cheetah on board for a magic act, worked as a bellboy.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 June 2025
The look: The Wild Side The design: The obvious go-to animal prints in this category are leopard and zebra, although snakeskin and tiger certainly make plenty of appearances, as well (and sure, probably cheetah, too).
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
Check out the gators at Alligator Aisle, or the 2-year-old cheetah cubs at Cheetah Creek.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 25 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 14 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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