panda

noun pan·da \ ˈpan-də \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Definition of panda

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

See panda defined for English-language learners

See panda defined for kids

Recent Examples of panda from the Web

And experts often must wait until the panda’s cycle ends — with or without a cub.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "No giant panda cub this year, National Zoo announces," 5 July 2018
An immersive theater experience starring a chubby animated panda.

— latimes.com, "Today: High Stakes, Low Prep," 8 June 2018
This panda from a zoo in China is the prime example.

— alexis hobbs, Woman's Day, "WATCH: Panda Cub Fails at Climbing Ladder While Still Being Completely Adorable," 23 Sep. 2015
Her movements were tracked 24/7, via the zoo's panda cams, starting July 1.

— rebecca bratek, CBS News, "National Zoo's giant panda experiencing "pseudopregnancy," zoo says," 5 July 2018
Watch the birth: UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: The Zoo is receiving heavy traffic on its panda cam.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "A Primer on the Zoo’s Possibly Pregnant Giant Panda," 28 June 2018
Aiden Eastwood wore a panda costume to attract passersby in the Turnstyle Underground Market in the concourse between 57th and 58th streets in Manhattan.

— anne kadet, WSJ, "This New York City Subway Station Gets Rave Reviews," 1 May 2018
The female panda, which has not yet been named, is the second offspring of giant pandas Liang Liang and Xing Xing, both of which are on a 10-year loan to Malaysia since 2014.

— Fox News, "Baby panda born in Malaysia zoo makes media appearance," 26 May 2018
In addition to the romping pandas, the IMAX views of the landscape are spectacular (42 min., G).

— BostonGlobe.com, "Capsule movie reviews," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'panda.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of panda

Origin and Etymology of panda

French, perhaps from a language of the southeast Himalayas

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1834

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

PANDA Defined for English Language Learners

panda

noun

Definition of panda for English Language Learners

: a large animal with black-and-white fur that looks like a bear, lives in China, and eats mostly bamboo shoots

PANDA Defined for Kids

panda

noun pan·da \ ˈpan-də \

Definition of panda for Students

1 : red panda

2 : a large black-and-white animal of central and western China that feeds mostly on the leaves and stems of the bamboo and is related to the bear

History for panda

A picture of a panda—the red panda rather than the panda of China—as well as the word panda itself first appeared in Europe in 1825. The French naturalist who published the picture, Frédéric Cuvier, did not tell us where he found the word, but it is assumed to be from a language of Nepal. When the panda of China first became known, it was thought to be a kind of bear. In 1901 scientists decided it was most closely related to the red panda and hence named it “giant panda.” Though the kinship between the two animals is now known to be much more distant, the name panda is still firmly attached to both animals.