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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More memorable returning characters include Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), a fellow police officer and cheetah who loves to snack, and Flash (Raymond Persi), the sloth who works at the Department of Mammal Vehicles, also seem to be returning to the new movie.
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Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 29 Sep. 2025
And leopard print has had a hard and fast return, from Jennifer Lawrence and her covetable outerwear and shoe collection, to snakeprints at Khaite, and cheetah details at Bottega Veneta.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2025
There is only one NHL player who’s survived a cheetah attack, occasionally loses a few large snakes and once convinced Canadian customs to let through a collection of knives.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Each drive offered us the choice to head down into the valley—in search of the elusive black leopard or to visit the hippos dotting the riverbank—or up onto the plateau where the chance to see lions, cheetahs, zebras, and elephants awaited.
—Rebekah Peppler, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2025
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Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 29 Sep. 2025
And leopard print has had a hard and fast return, from Jennifer Lawrence and her covetable outerwear and shoe collection, to snakeprints at Khaite, and cheetah details at Bottega Veneta.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2025
There is only one NHL player who’s survived a cheetah attack, occasionally loses a few large snakes and once convinced Canadian customs to let through a collection of knives.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Each drive offered us the choice to head down into the valley—in search of the elusive black leopard or to visit the hippos dotting the riverbank—or up onto the plateau where the chance to see lions, cheetahs, zebras, and elephants awaited.
—Rebekah Peppler, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 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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