lion

American  

[lahy-uhn] / ˈlaɪ ən /

noun

1. a large, usually tawny-yellow cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa and southern Asia, having a tufted tail and, in the male, a large mane.

2. any of various related large wildcats, as the cougar.

3. a man of great strength, courage, etc.

4. a person of great importance, influence, charm, etc., who is much admired as a celebrity.

   a literary lion.

5. the lion as the national emblem of Great Britain.

6. Astronomy, Astrology. Leo, the constellation or sign of Leo.

7. Leo, a member of any one of the internationally affiliated service clubs International Association of Lions Clubs founded in 1917 and dedicated to promoting responsible citizenship, sound government, and community, national, and international welfare.

8. Numismatics.

   1. a silver, Anglo-Gallic denier, issued during the reign of Henry III, bearing the figure of a lion.

   2. a gold coin of Scotland, issued c1400–1589, bearing the figure of a lion.

   3. any of various other coins bearing the figure of a lion.

   4. hardhead.

9. British. an object of interest or note.

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idioms

1. twist the lion's tail, to tax the patience of or provoke a person, group, nation, or government, especially that of Great Britain.

2. beard the lion in its den, to confront or attack someone, especially a powerful or feared person, in that person's own familiar surroundings.

lion ¹ British  

/ ˈlaɪən /

noun

1. a large gregarious predatory feline mammal, Panthera leo, of open country in parts of Africa and India, having a tawny yellow coat and, in the male, a shaggy mane

2. a conventionalized lion, the principal beast used as an emblem in heraldry. It has become the national emblem of Great Britain

3. a courageous, strong, or bellicose person

4. a celebrity or idol who attracts much publicity and a large following

5. to approach a feared or influential person, esp in order to ask a favour

6. the largest portion

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Lion ² British  

/ ˈlaɪən /

noun

1. the constellation Leo, the fifth sign of the zodiac

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lion More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing lion

• beard the lion
• throw to the wolves (lions)

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Other Word Forms

• lionesque adjective
• lionlike adjective
• lionly adjective

Etymology

Origin of lion

First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Old French, variant of leon, from Latin leōn- (stem of leō ), from Greek léōn; replacing Middle English, Old English lēo, from Latin, as above

Explanation

A lion is a distant relative of your adorable pet kitten: a large, wild cat found in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Male lions have thick, golden-colored manes around their necks. While the male lion is arguably more striking than the female, it's the females who do nearly all the hunting for a group, or pride, of lions. Tigers are actually larger than lions, making "the king of the beasts" the second-largest wild cat. Because of their strength and power, images of lions are often used as symbols on flags and coats of arms. It's also common to call a strong, courageous person a lion.

Example Sentences

And a former lion from Longleat is being immortalised by an inventor who has recreated her paw print in tyre form, which could help improve the grip of Nasa's rover vehicles that work on Mars.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Crimson is one of the youngest mountain lion cubs the zoo has ever cared for, and ensuring he reaches adulthood is no easy task.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The lion doesn’t go after the strongest, he said, “they find the one that they think is weaker, more vulnerable, and that’s the one that they get.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Preston is a corporate titan living out his lion in winter phase.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

When I asked my brother, “Hey, what’s going on?” he said, “The lion killed Ngoneya.”

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

Related Words

• cat
• cougar
• wildcat