Illustration of jaguar
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
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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
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From elusive jaguars to saguaro cactus, the changing climate is taking its toll on some of Arizona’s most iconic species, even those who have adapted to the desert heat over thousands of years.
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John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance to save seven big cats – tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and pumas – which now has 11 member countries.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
This sighting is a promising sign that the efforts to reintroduce female jaguars and promote genetic diversity are beginning to bear fruit.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
To contribute to the region’s conservation efforts, join expert biologists and vets to track the elusive jaguar or monitor macaws and their nesting sites.
—Emmanuel Burgio, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025
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John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance to save seven big cats – tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and pumas – which now has 11 member countries.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
This sighting is a promising sign that the efforts to reintroduce female jaguars and promote genetic diversity are beginning to bear fruit.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
To contribute to the region’s conservation efforts, join expert biologists and vets to track the elusive jaguar or monitor macaws and their nesting sites.
—Emmanuel Burgio, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jaguar
Cite this Entry
“Jaguar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jaguar. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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