leopard

1 of 2

noun (1)

leop·​ard ˈle-pərd 

1

a

: a large strong cat (Panthera pardus) of southern Asia and Africa that is adept at climbing and is usually tawny or buff with black spots arranged in rosettes

called also panther

b

: the fur or pelt of a leopard

2

: a heraldic representation of a lion passant guardant

Illustration of leopard

• leopard 1

leopardess

2 of 2

noun (2)

leop·​ard·​ess ˈle-pər-dəs 

: a female leopard

Examples of leopard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Mandy Moore have all been spotted in leopard-print shoes, from sneakers and mules to pumps. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026

For a dose of color, a 1950s Italian games table sits by the window (creating space for work), topped with green leather, and is paired with a Deco barrel chair in jacquard leopard print for a pop of pattern. — Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026

Pony hair printed with different animal patterns has become a recurring motif across the sneaker landscape from 2025 through to now, most prominently appearing at Nike via the Air Force 1 Low with renditions including leopard and cow prints. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

The 11,700-square-foot house is part of Thanda Safari, a roughly 40,000-acre private game reserve where elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo roam and giraffes and zebras can sometimes be spotted right from the home. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French lepart, leupart, from Late Latin leopardus, from Greek leopardos, from leōn lion + pardos leopard

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1567, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing leopard

• a leopard can't change its spots
• clouded leopard
• leopard cat
• leopard frog
• leopard seal
• snow leopard

Rhymes for leopard

• peppered
• shepherd

Kids Definition

leopard

noun

leop·​ard ˈlep-ərd 

: a large strong cat of southern Asia and Africa that has a brownish buff coat with black spots arranged in broken rings

called also panther