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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They are spread out across six zones, including Red Rocks (tigers, zebra and giraffes), Lakeside Crossing (sea lions, seals and stingrays) and the immersive River’s Edge (elephants, cheetahs and hippos).
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Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
Hathaway, who was recently named PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful Cover Star, recently paired white wide-leg jeans with a cheetah-print coat while getting dinner in Milan.
—Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
This sweet peplum blouse features three front ties that can be styled into bows, short puff sleeves, and is available in black and a cheetah print as well.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Meryl Streep chose the Hudson tote—in black small grain-leather, to be specific—to top off her cheetah-licious look on her press run for The Devil Wears Prada 2.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
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Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
Hathaway, who was recently named PEOPLE’s World’s Most Beautiful Cover Star, recently paired white wide-leg jeans with a cheetah-print coat while getting dinner in Milan.
—Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
This sweet peplum blouse features three front ties that can be styled into bows, short puff sleeves, and is available in black and a cheetah print as well.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Meryl Streep chose the Hudson tote—in black small grain-leather, to be specific—to top off her cheetah-licious look on her press run for The Devil Wears Prada 2.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheetah
Cite this Entry
“Cheetah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheetah. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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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