Illustration of panda
- A red panda
- B panda 2
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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
Examples of panda in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With the pandas' pending departure, the National Zoo will be panda-less for the first time in over half a century.
—
Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 29 Aug. 2023
The pandas first came to Washington in 1972, which launched a frenzy in the capital as visitors to the National Zoo fell in love with the animals.
—Luke Gentile, Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2023
The adult pandas were supposed to stay for a decade as part of a research and breeding agreement, but the program with China was extended several times.
—Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Mom Mei Xiang celebrated her birthday in July, but August brings two opportunities to see pandas dig into special treats, including colorful fruitsicles: Panda cub Xiao Qi Ji turns 3 on Aug. 21, while dad Tian Tian turns 26 on Aug. 27.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023
Once found all over China, pandas now appear in the wild in only three of China’s provinces—Gansu, Shanxi, and Sichuan—but in 2016, with two thousand in the wild, the species’ status was downgraded from endangered to vulnerable.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 17 July 2023
It is estimated that around 1,800 pandas remain in the wild, mostly in the mountains of Sichuan, western China.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 12 July 2023
The pandas could have been offerings from southern China, the species’ traditional habitat.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2023
In 1975, the skull of a panda was unearthed in the tomb of Emperor Wen’s mother, Empress Dowager Bo, but the animal’s body was missing, possibly stolen.
—Lyric Li, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
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Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 29 Aug. 2023
The pandas first came to Washington in 1972, which launched a frenzy in the capital as visitors to the National Zoo fell in love with the animals.
—Luke Gentile, Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2023
The adult pandas were supposed to stay for a decade as part of a research and breeding agreement, but the program with China was extended several times.
—Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Mom Mei Xiang celebrated her birthday in July, but August brings two opportunities to see pandas dig into special treats, including colorful fruitsicles: Panda cub Xiao Qi Ji turns 3 on Aug. 21, while dad Tian Tian turns 26 on Aug. 27.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023
Once found all over China, pandas now appear in the wild in only three of China’s provinces—Gansu, Shanxi, and Sichuan—but in 2016, with two thousand in the wild, the species’ status was downgraded from endangered to vulnerable.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 17 July 2023
It is estimated that around 1,800 pandas remain in the wild, mostly in the mountains of Sichuan, western China.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 12 July 2023
The pandas could have been offerings from southern China, the species’ traditional habitat.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Aug. 2023
In 1975, the skull of a panda was unearthed in the tomb of Emperor Wen’s mother, Empress Dowager Bo, but the animal’s body was missing, possibly stolen.
—Lyric Li, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'panda.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French, perhaps from a language of the southeast Himalayas
First Known Use
1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Cite this Entry
“Panda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panda. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on panda
Nglish: Translation of panda for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of panda for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about panda
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