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bobcat

American  
[bob-kat] / ˈbɒbˌkæt /

noun

plural

bobcats,

plural

bobcat
  1. a North American wildcat, Lynx rufus, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico, having a brownish coat with black spots.


bobcat British  
/ ˈbɒbˌkæt /

noun

  1. Also called: bay lynx.  a North American feline mammal, Lynx rufus , closely related to but smaller than the lynx, having reddish-brown fur with dark spots or stripes, tufted ears, and a short tail

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bobcat

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; bob(tail) + cat ( def. )

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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.

His security cameras once captured a bobcat walking past a feral cat on his property.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025

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

If you saw a red-tailed hawk injured after colliding with an office window, or a bobcat hit by a car, what would you do?

From Seattle Times • Apr. 18, 2024

The woman’s eyes and the display of her teeth made him remember the glassy eyes of the stuffed bobcat above the bar in Bibo.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko