panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də 

1

: red panda

2

: a large black-and-white mammal (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) of chiefly central China that feeds primarily on bamboo shoots and is now usually classified with the bears (family Ursidae)

called also giant panda

Illustration of panda

• A red panda
• B panda 2

Examples of panda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Atlanta welcomed two exciting new residents Friday as Zoo Atlanta debuted its new pandas after a two-year pause. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 10 Nov. 2026

According to the zoo, Ping Ping, a male panda, is the older of the duo and was born on March 17, 2020. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026

The other two, the National Zoo and the San Diego Zoo, both received pandas from China in 2024. — Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

Panels also featured decorations that included hearts, rainbows, sequins, a Star of David, a chef’s hat, a chorus line of dancers, teddy bears, and a panda. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, perhaps from a language of the southeast Himalayas

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing panda

• giant panda
• lesser panda
• panda car
• red panda
• trash panda

Rhymes for panda

• banda
• ganda
• vanda
• aranda
• miranda
• veranda
• verandah
• jacaranda
• memoranda
• propaganda

Kids Definition

panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də 

1

: red panda

2

: a large black and white mammal of chiefly central China that feeds primarily on bamboo shoots and is now usually considered to be closely related to the bears

called also giant panda