bobcat
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of bobcat
An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; bob(tail) + cat ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does bobcat compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you spot an animal in the woods that's about twice as big as your pet tabby, with spots like a leopard and a very short tail, it's probably a bobcat! Bobcats, a type of lynx, live all across North America, from Canada to Mexico. They prefer wooded areas, although they're also found in the mountains, in deserts, and even in the swamps of Florida. Bobcats, named for their short "bobbed" tails, prey on rabbits, chickens and other birds, rodents of various types, and even deer. Unlike their relatives, Canadian lynx, bobcats don't move easily through snow, but they're tough and adaptable enough to thrive in the north anyway.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You might spot wildlife as you head up, including bobcat, deer, owls, foxes and if lucky, a mountain lion, Hartman said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026
I live in the foothills where bear, bobcat and mountain lion sightings break up the tedium of coyote and raccoon encounters.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025
OK, yes, maybe you still have questions about the bobcat pee thing.
From Slate • Nov. 14, 2024
It’s suspected the bobcat was struck by a vehicle Jan. 7, the sheriff’s office says.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2024
Could it be that they bred with bobcat or lynx?
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
