panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də How to pronounce panda (audio)
1
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

Illustration of panda
  • A red panda
  • B panda 2

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 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of panda was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near panda

Cite this Entry

“Panda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panda. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

panda

noun
pan·​da ˈpan-də How to pronounce panda (audio)
1
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

More from Merriam-Webster on panda

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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