tiger

1 of 2

noun

ti·​ger ˈtī-gər 

plural tigers

1

plural also tiger

a

: a large Asian carnivorous mammal (Panthera tigris) of the cat family having a usually tawny coat transversely striped with black

b

: any of several large wildcats (such as the jaguar or cougar)

c

: a domestic cat with striped pattern

d

Australia : tasmanian tiger

2

a

: a fierce, daring, or aggressive person or quality

aroused the tiger in him

a tiger for work

b

: someone or something (such as a situation) that is formidable or impossible to control

… how the tiger of inflation can be tamed.

—J. A. Davenport

—often used in the phrases ride a tiger and have a tiger by the tail

3

British : a groom in livery

tigerish

ˈtī-g(ə-)rish 

adjective

tigerishly adverb

tigerishness noun

tigerlike

ˈtī-gər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of tiger

• tiger 1a

tigerish

2 of 2

adjective

ti·​ger·​ish ˈtīg(ə)rish 

-rēsh

: of or relating to tigers : resembling a tiger usually in sleek grace, voracity, ferocity, or vigorous intensity of action

tigerish grace

a tigerish appetite

a tigerish fury

worked with tigerish concentration

tigerishly adverb

tigerishness noun

plural -es

Synonyms of tiger

Noun

• shark
• barracuda
• bully
• pit bull
• fighter

Examples of tiger in a Sentence

Noun

He was a tiger on the basketball court.

even the best defense can't keep that tiger from scoring

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At this point, the AI economy is like a drunk guy who managed to mount a tiger. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026

Hunters wiped out thylacines, commonly known as Tasmanian tigers, in Australia nearly a century ago. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

The program also views Mike as an ambassador for tiger conservation, using his presence to help visitors understand the threats facing wild tigers and their habitats. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars and any hybrid of these species is protected. — Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tigre, from Old English tiger & Anglo-French tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Greek, probably of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan tighra- pointed; akin to Greek stizein to tattoo — more at stick

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tiger

• Amur tiger
• Asian tiger mosquito
• Bengal tiger
• blind tiger
• false saber-toothed tiger
• paper tiger
• saber-toothed tiger
• saber-tooth tiger
• Siberian tiger
• Tasmanian tiger
• tiger beetle
• tiger cat
• tiger lily
• tiger maple
• tiger mosquito
• tiger moth
• tiger salamander
• tiger's-eye
• tiger shark
• tiger shrimp
• tiger swallowtail

Rhymes for tiger

• geiger

Kids Definition

tiger

noun

ti·​ger ˈtī-gər 

plural tigers also tiger

1

: a large Asian flesh-eating mammal of the same family as the domestic cat with a coat that is typically light brown to orange with mostly vertical black stripes

2

: any of several large wildcats (as the jaguar or cougar)

3

: a domestic cat with a striped coat