noun
Uncommon
cougar
KOO-guh
Cougar (noun) means a large wild cat native to the Americas, also called a puma or mountain lion. Example: “A cougar was spotted prowling near the campsite.”
noun
1
A large wild cat native to the Americas, also called a puma or mountain lion.
"A cougar was spotted prowling near the campsite."
2
Informal: an older woman who seeks romantic or sexual relationships with much younger men.
"A cougar approached Warren at the Palomino Club and asked for a dance."
"The tabloid nicknamed her a cougar after she was seen dating a man half her age."
"“Early on, when we were dating, I was like, ‘Do you think I’m a cougar?’” she recalls with a laugh. When Woolfolk started growing out his salt-and-pepper beard, she was thrilled."
— Clover Hope, ‘Do you think I’m a cougar?’: five influencer couples on their age-gap relationships (2026)
How to use cougar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big cat found across the Americas — or, informally, an older woman dating much younger men.
When to use it
The slang sense is casual and can be considered dismissive; use with care in formal writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- cougars
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ was spotted prowling near the campsite.
Etymology
From French couguar, borrowed from Portuguese, ultimately from an Old Tupi word for the animal.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cougar
See all rhymes for cougar →Frequently asked questions
What does “cougar” mean?
The word “cougar” means a large wild cat native to the Americas, also called a puma or mountain lion. In plain terms, a big cat found across the Americas — or, informally, an older woman dating much younger men.
How do you pronounce “cougar”?
“Cougar” is pronounced KOO-guh (/ˈkuɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cougar” in a sentence?
Here is “cougar” used in a sentence: “A cougar was spotted prowling near the campsite.”
What part of speech is “cougar”?
“Cougar” is a noun.
Where does the word “cougar” come from?
The word “cougar” comes from French. From French couguar, borrowed from Portuguese, ultimately from an Old Tupi word for the animal.
Is “cougar” a common word?
“Cougar” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cougar” have?
“Cougar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large wild cat native to the Americas, also called a puma or mountain lion.
