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Showing results for cheetah. Search instead for cheetoh.
Synonyms

cheetah

American  
[chee-tuh] / ˈtʃi tə /

noun

  • cheetahs
    plural
  1. a cat, Acinonyx jubatus, of southwestern Asia and Africa, resembling a leopard but having certain doglike characteristics, often trained for hunting deer, antelope, etc.: an endangered species.


cheetah British  
/ ˈtʃiːtə /

noun

  1. a large feline mammal, Acinonyx jubatus, of Africa and SW Asia: the swiftest mammal, having very long legs, nonretractile claws, and a black-spotted light-brown coat

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of cheetah

1695–1705; < Hindi cītā < Sanskrit citraka leopard; compare Pali cittaka, Prakrit cittaya


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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.

See Examples For:

The total cheetah population in the wild in India is around 60, including some 40 Indian-born cheetahs.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

According to the researchers, the label American "cheetah" is misleading in two ways.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

Whang wore a cheetah print blazer, and Doyle wore a wide-brimmed black hat — they both had on gold and red eye makeup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

A story for young readers about a rescue dog and a young cheetah is inspired by real-world zoo practices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

Dude zipped up and down the wing on fast breaks like a cheetah, finished at the rim like a bull.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

AFP was granted rare access for a two-day tour, passing expansive glass-fronted enclosures housing some of the 200 lions, 200 cheetahs and 150 tigers.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Although their proportions resembled those of modern cheetahs, growing evidence suggests these cats were much more versatile hunters, able to chase prey on land while also using powerful forelimbs to grab and hold it.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

The cat haven has been operating for 28 years and houses 39 different cat species, including cheetahs, bobcats, clouded leopards, cougars and snow leopards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

Her big ambition is to travel to Kenya, to photograph cheetahs in the wild.

From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2025

They form close friendships, hunt together and fight shoulder to shoulder against baboons, cheetahs and enemy chimpanzees.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

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