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

The zoo says that the facility would be about 50 yards from some of its animals and that the noise could disturb its residents, including a leap of leopards that hail originally from Southeast Asia. —David Ingram, NBC news, 6 June 2026

Vargas is survived by his loving parents, Michael and Alicia Vargas; his sisters, Briana Gidney, and Marissa Allison Vargas; a host of other family members, friends, and his beloved pet, Piccolo, a sunglow leopard gecko. —Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026

Noun

Altuna snapped the moment a leopardess killed a baboon and walked off with the primate's living baby still holding on in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Heads of Tails? —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 13 Dec. 2022

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