noun

bobcat

BOB-kat

Bobcat (noun) means a medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail. Example: “A bobcat was spotted near the hiking trail last week.”

noun

A medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail.

"A bobcat was spotted near the hiking trail last week."

A small, versatile construction vehicle used for digging and loading (often a trademarked brand name).

"They brought in a bobcat to clear the rubble."

How to use bobcat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a wild North American cat with a short tail, or a small digging machine used on building sites.

Easily confused with

lynx →

Word forms

bobcats plural, bobcats plural, Bobcats plural

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Test yourself on “bobcat” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ was spotted near the hiking trail last week.

Etymology

Named for its short, "bobbed" tail plus cat.

Synonyms

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bay lynx

Frequently asked questions

What does “bobcat” mean?

The word “bobcat” means a medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail. In plain terms, either a wild North American cat with a short tail, or a small digging machine used on building sites.

How do you pronounce “bobcat”?

“Bobcat” is pronounced BOB-kat (/ˈbɔb.kæt/ in IPA).

How do you use “bobcat” in a sentence?

Here is “bobcat” used in a sentence: “A bobcat was spotted near the hiking trail last week.”

What part of speech is “bobcat”?

“Bobcat” is a noun.

How many meanings does “bobcat” have?

“Bobcat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail.