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
Did you know?
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
Antle pleaded guilty in November 2023, admitting to directing the sale or purchase of two cheetah cubs, two lion cubs, two tigers and one juvenile chimpanzee — all of which are protected under the Endangered Species Act — between September 2018 and May 2020.
—
Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
The images range from a cheetah’s laugh to a deer pulling a surprised face, to birds stumbling into hilarious situations or simply living their 'ordinary’ lives until a human photographer in the right place at the right moment from the right angle transforms them into a humorous scene.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Remi Wolf Wolf morphed into a Y2K cowgirl, mixing cheetah print with shimmery blue eye shadow that traveled across her lids and under her eyes.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 18 July 2025
Khloe Kardashian arrives wearing a cheetah print jumpsuit in Venice, joining multiple celebrities in attendance for the wedding of Jeff Bezos on June 25.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cheetah
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
The images range from a cheetah’s laugh to a deer pulling a surprised face, to birds stumbling into hilarious situations or simply living their 'ordinary’ lives until a human photographer in the right place at the right moment from the right angle transforms them into a humorous scene.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Remi Wolf Wolf morphed into a Y2K cowgirl, mixing cheetah print with shimmery blue eye shadow that traveled across her lids and under her eyes.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 18 July 2025
Khloe Kardashian arrives wearing a cheetah print jumpsuit in Venice, joining multiple celebrities in attendance for the wedding of Jeff Bezos on June 25.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 30 June 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 21 Aug. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share