English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

jaguar

JAG-yoor

Jaguar (noun) means a large spotted wild cat native to Central and South America, the biggest cat species in the Americas. Example: “The jaguar slipped silently through the rainforest undergrowth.”

noun
1
A large spotted wild cat native to Central and South America, the biggest cat species in the Americas.
"The jaguar slipped silently through the rainforest undergrowth."
"Unlike most cats, jaguars are strong swimmers and often hunt near rivers."
2
A car made by the British manufacturer Jaguar.
"He pulled up outside the hotel in a gleaming green Jaguar."

How to use jaguar

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the big spotted cat from the Americas, or the British car brand named after it.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
a jaguar prowls spotted jaguar drive a Jaguar

Word forms

jaguars plural, Jaguars plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “jaguar” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ slipped silently through the rainforest undergrowth.

Etymology

From Portuguese jaguar, itself from an Old Tupi word meaning roughly "beast that kills its prey in one bound."

Origin: Portuguese

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “jaguar” mean?

The word “jaguar” means a large spotted wild cat native to Central and South America, the biggest cat species in the Americas. In plain terms, either the big spotted cat from the Americas, or the British car brand named after it.

How do you pronounce “jaguar”?

“Jaguar” is pronounced JAG-yoor (/ˈd͡ʒæɡ.wɑɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “jaguar” in a sentence?

Here is “jaguar” used in a sentence: “The jaguar slipped silently through the rainforest undergrowth.”

What part of speech is “jaguar”?

“Jaguar” is a noun.

Where does the word “jaguar” come from?

The word “jaguar” comes from Portuguese. From Portuguese jaguar, itself from an Old Tupi word meaning roughly "beast that kills its prey in one bound.".

Is “jaguar” a common word?

“Jaguar” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “jaguar” have?

“Jaguar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large spotted wild cat native to Central and South America, the biggest cat species in the Americas.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial