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

Standout murals worth seeking out include Leo Lunatic’s evil panda in a parking lot off Koca Aga Sk and a huge Nazar (Türkiye’s blue evil eye) nearby. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026

Humanoids marched, backflipped, and twirled nunchucks; robotic pandas gambolled. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

The two cubs were the first pandas born at the zoo since 1993. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

In one montage played for laughs, an emperor is squashed by a panda and a king is beheaded, although there is no blood or guts to speak of. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 July 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