jaguar

noun

jag·​uar ˈja-ˌgwär  -gyə-ˌwär 

-gwər;

 dialectal  -gwī(-ə)r,

 especially British  ˈja-gyə-wər

plural jaguars also jaguar

: a large cat (Panthera onca) chiefly of Central and South America that is larger and stockier than the leopard and is brownish yellow or buff with black spots

Illustration of jaguar

Did you know?

The jaguar is the largest New World cat. It was once found in wooded regions from the U.S.-Mexican border south to Patagonia, Currently, the jaguar survives, in reduced numbers, only in remote areas of Central and South America; the largest known population is in the Amazon rain forest. The male is 5.5-9.0 ft. (1.7-2.7 m) long, including the tail, which measures 23-35-in. (60-90-cm) long, and weighs 220-350 lbs. (100-160 kg). The coat is typically orange-tan with black spots arranged in rosettes with a black spot in the center. A solitary predator, the jaguar usually hunts rodents, deer, birds, and fish; it will also take cattle, horses, and dogs.

Examples of jaguar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Finalists for 2025 Indianapolis Prize:Helping protect parrots, manatees, jaguars and more Who are the 2025 Emerging Conservationist finalists? —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024

The ranges serve as important habitat corridors for species like the ocelot, jaguar and black bear, enabling them to move widely in search of food, mates and shelter. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct. 2024

The best time to spot the region’s iconic and rare jaguars is during the dry season, from June to October. —Lily Bunker, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2024

Other research initiatives, such as the University of Arizona’s Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center’s wildcat monitoring project, have identified jaguars and ocelots in the region. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi jawára large carnivore

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

jaguar

noun

jag·​uar ˈjag(-yə)-ˌwär 

: a large yellowish brown black-spotted cat of tropical America that is larger and has a more solid build than the leopard