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

Bao Li and Qing Bao, both three years old, joined the zoo in January after the previous panda tenants, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, returned to China when their lease expired in November 2023. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025

Stephan and her team initially held off calling their chatbot, which looks like a cartoon panda, a therapist. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

Guests will also be treated to multiple merchandise vendors, Asian culture performances and of course, panda themed merchandise. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025

Nat Hab will secure permits to look for pandas in the wild, remote reserves, while also taking travelers to panda-research centers and breeding sites for an education on conservation efforts, research and rehabilitations. —Gaby Keiderling, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025

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

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