leopard

American  

[lep-erd] / ˈlɛp ərd /

noun

1. a large, spotted Asian or African carnivore, Panthera pardus, of the cat family, usually tawny with black markings; the Old World panther: all leopard populations are threatened or endangered.

2. the fur or pelt of this animal.

3. any of various related cats resembling this animal.

4. Heraldry. a lion represented from the side as walking, usually with one forepaw raised, and looking toward the spectator.

5. Numismatics.

   1. an Anglo-Gallic gold coin issued by Edward III, equal to half a florin, bearing the figure of a leopard.

   2. a silver Anglo-Gallic coin issued by Henry V.

6. Military. Leopard, a 42-ton (38-metric ton) West German tank with a 105 mm gun.

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leopard British  

/ ˈlɛpəd /

noun

1. Also called: panther.  a large feline mammal, Panthera pardus, of forests of Africa and Asia, usually having a tawny yellow coat with black rosette-like spots

2. any of several similar felines, such as the snow leopard and cheetah

3. a feline, Neofelis nebulosa, of SE Asia and Indonesia with a yellowish-brown coat marked with darker spots and blotches

4. heraldry a stylized leopard, painted as a lion with the face turned towards the front

5. the pelt of a leopard

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Other Word Forms

• leopardess
  noun

Etymology

Origin of leopard

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English leopard, labarde, lebarde, from Old French leopard, lebard, leupard, from Late Latin leōpardus, from Greek leópardos, syncopated variant of leontópardos, equivalent to leonto- (stem of léōn ) + párdos; see origin at lion, pard ¹

Explanation

A leopard is a large feline, a very distant relative of the sweet kitty purring on your lap. A member of the panther family, the leopard is extinct in some regions and considered vulnerable in others. Leopards look similar to jaguars; they both have distinctive rose-shaped markings that act as camouflage, though leopards are slightly smaller and lighter. In rare cases when a leopard's melanin makes it appear totally black, it's called a black panther. The name of this large cat comes from an ancient belief that it was half lion and half panther — the Greek root leopardos means "lion-panther."

Example Sentences

Tuesday, when a motorcycle deputy attempted a traffic stop as Bellish was riding an unregistered Arctic Leopard electric dirt bike, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Europe almost exclusively supplies its own armored vehicles, with Germany’s Leopard the world’s most popular tank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

This has been evidenced by the degrading state of some of its most historic buildings, like the Queen's Theatre, the fire-hit Leopard pub and the Wedgwood Institute.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

However, volume growth is expected to turn positive in 2026, forecast at 19%, supported by new product launches from high-end brands Denza and Equation Leopard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

“Hey, the old man must’ve tricked us,” said the Leopard.

From "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba

Related Words

• cheetah
• panther