✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

lioness

noun

li·​on·​ess ˈlī-ə-nəs How to pronounce lioness (audio)
: a female lion

Examples of lioness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Detroit Zoo this week announced the birth of three lion cubs to first-time mom Amirah, a 9-year-old African lioness housed at the zoo. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 2 Dec. 2025 Leona, the lioness who mauled the teen, is under evaluation. Kate Reilly, NBC news, 1 Dec. 2025 Viral videos of the attack showed the lioness, Leona, lying next to the glass separating her from visitors, who gasp in shock as the teen shimmies down a tree. CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025 Following Machado’s death, Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara shared an update on the lioness in a news release on Instagram. Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lioness

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lioness was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lioness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lioness. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

lioness

noun
li·​on·​ess ˈlī-ə-nəs How to pronounce lioness (audio)
: a female lion

More from Merriam-Webster on lioness

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!