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
Pairing a cheetah jacket with a striped set?
—
Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
There is a statuette of a cheetah in Antonio Romanucci’s law office in a skyscraper overlooking the Chicago River.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The discovery could help reintroduction efforts as scientists now know which cheetah lineages once lived in the peninsula and have evidence of their success in the area.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Leopard and cheetah print fur in snoos, scarves and dramatic coats ruled the jungle of sleek neutral basics, leather pieces and pops of red.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
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Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
There is a statuette of a cheetah in Antonio Romanucci’s law office in a skyscraper overlooking the Chicago River.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The discovery could help reintroduction efforts as scientists now know which cheetah lineages once lived in the peninsula and have evidence of their success in the area.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Leopard and cheetah print fur in snoos, scarves and dramatic coats ruled the jungle of sleek neutral basics, leather pieces and pops of red.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 18 Feb. 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 11 Mar. 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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