Illustration of tiger
- tiger 1a
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
J. A. Davenport3
British
: a groom in livery
tigerishly
adverb
tigerishness
noun
Examples of tiger in a Sentence
He was a tiger on the basketball court.
even the best defense can't keep that tiger from scoring
Recent Examples on the Web
The residence showcases exquisite marble, onyx, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, and malachite stonework, accented with 14-karat gold-leaf detailing and silk trim.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Together, the two cubs represent a living link between the Dallas Zoo and the rangers working to keep Sumatran tigers from disappearing.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Their names — chosen to honor rangers who protect wild tigers in Sumatra — connect the work happening at Dallas Zoo to conservation taking place thousands of miles away.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Their mother is Sukacita, a Sumatran tiger who goes by Suki.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tiger
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Mark David, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Together, the two cubs represent a living link between the Dallas Zoo and the rangers working to keep Sumatran tigers from disappearing.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Their names — chosen to honor rangers who protect wild tigers in Sumatra — connect the work happening at Dallas Zoo to conservation taking place thousands of miles away.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Their mother is Sukacita, a Sumatran tiger who goes by Suki.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tiger
Cite this Entry
“Tiger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiger. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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