leopard

noun

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

Examples of leopard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Streep wore a vinyl trench coat from the SS25 runway collection, with a lamé animalier shirt, slim-fit trousers, a leopard print belt, a leopard print faux fur Marlene clutch and green pumps. —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025

And leopard print has had a hard and fast return, from Jennifer Lawrence and her covetable outerwear and shoe collection, to snakeprints at Khaite, and cheetah details at Bottega Veneta. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2025

See it In the Algeti National Park in Georgia, a Persian leopard, thought to be locally extinct, was caught on a trail camera. —Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025

The Central Saint Martins graduate did that by imbuing his sculptural shapes with textural materials inspired by houndstooth coats, leopard shirts, and twinsets made by his grandmother. —Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

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