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

The pandas, both aged 4, arrived at the zoo in late 2024 and made their public debut in January 2025. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 June 2026

In fact, the panda parenting style of parenting is explicitly focused on fostering independence and resilience. —Emily Shiffer, Parents, 24 May 2026

Harkness, her partner Quentin Young and their crew discovered the baby panda in a hollow tree shortly after arriving in China’s Sichuan Province earlier that month. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026

The new Huawei smartwatch has a larger display, a ceramic-like metal finish on the White model, and an all-new mini workout mode, which unlocks cute panda watch faces! —Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 23 May 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