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
Recent Examples on the Web
Others take a more menacing tone, like a jaguar facing off with a dog in a snowy backyard.
—
Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
One of my most memorable trips was a lengthy jaguar hunt into the jungles of Brazil with the late Al Georg, outdoor writer and handgun enthusiast.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
Local officials and Panthera, a wildcat conservation organization, have been working together to improve conditions in the area for jaguars, taking steps like increasing the number of anti-poaching rangers on patrol and reintroducing iguanas and other prey.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 28 Apr. 2026
There have only been three recorded sightings of jaguars at such high elevation in Honduras, the last of which was in 2016, per the outlet.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
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Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
One of my most memorable trips was a lengthy jaguar hunt into the jungles of Brazil with the late Al Georg, outdoor writer and handgun enthusiast.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
Local officials and Panthera, a wildcat conservation organization, have been working together to improve conditions in the area for jaguars, taking steps like increasing the number of anti-poaching rangers on patrol and reintroducing iguanas and other prey.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 28 Apr. 2026
There have only been three recorded sightings of jaguars at such high elevation in Honduras, the last of which was in 2016, per the outlet.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jaguar
Cite this Entry
“Jaguar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jaguar. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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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