cougar

noun

cou·​gar ˈkü-gər 

 also  -ˌgär

plural cougars also cougar

1

: a large powerful tawny-brown cat (Puma concolor synonym Felis concolor) formerly widespread in the Americas but now reduced in number or extinct in many areas

called also catamount, mountain lion, panther, puma

2

slang : a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man

Illustration of cougar

• cougar 1

Synonyms

• panther

Examples of cougar in a Sentence

in many regions, suburban developments have encroached upon the habitat of the cougar

Recent Examples on the Web

There were also concerns about the noticeable mountain lion population in and around the Wood River Valley, something officers attributed to the area's ample deer and elk population, which grants cougars living there a reliable all-year-round food source. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025

Male cougars can weigh up to 150 pounds, while female cougars can weigh between 75 and 100 pounds. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025

More than 250 species of birds have been sighted in the park, along with grizzly bears, wolves and cougars. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025

In 2018, a cougar was spotted peering through the front window of a Brookfield home. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 27 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French couguar, modification of New Latin cuguacuarana, from Tupi sɨwasuarána, from sɨwásu deer + -ran resembling

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cougar

• huger
• luger

Kids Definition

cougar

noun

cou·​gar ˈkü-gər 

 also  -ˌgär

plural cougars also cougar

: a large powerful brownish yellow cat formerly widespread in the Americas but no longer found in many areas

called also catamount, mountain lion, panther, puma