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Synonyms

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. )

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.

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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.

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

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

“Whatever bobcat is out there, it’s one that knows how to hide, knows how to disappear.”

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

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.