leopard
LEHP-uhd
Leopard (noun) means a large wild cat with a yellow or tan coat covered in dark rosette-shaped spots, found across Africa and Asia. Example: “The leopard crouched silently in the tall grass, watching the herd.”
noun
1
A large wild cat with a yellow or tan coat covered in dark rosette-shaped spots, found across Africa and Asia.
"The leopard (Panthera pardus or Felis pardus cf tulliana) is a close relative of the lion, but biblical references mentioning it are very few, suggesting that it was not as common."
— Oded Borowski, Every Living Thing: Daily Use of Animals in Ancient Israel (1998)
"The leopard crouched silently in the tall grass, watching the herd."
"Leopards are known for dragging their prey up into trees."
"We saw a leopard resting on a branch during our safari."
How to use leopard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spotted big cat native to Africa and Asia.
Common mistake
"A leopard can't change its spots" is the fixed idiom meaning people don't fundamentally change — don't reword it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
leopard print
snow leopard
leopard-spotted
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Word forms
- Plural
- leopards
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ crouched silently in the tall grass, watching the herd.
Etymology
From Greek leopardos, itself a blend of leon, "lion," and pardos, "male panther" — early naturalists believed the leopard was a cross between the two.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “leopard” mean?
The word “leopard” means a large wild cat with a yellow or tan coat covered in dark rosette-shaped spots, found across Africa and Asia. In plain terms, a spotted big cat native to Africa and Asia.
How do you pronounce “leopard”?
“Leopard” is pronounced LEHP-uhd (/ˈlɛp.ɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “leopard” in a sentence?
Here is “leopard” used in a sentence: “The leopard crouched silently in the tall grass, watching the herd.”
What is another word for “leopard”?
Words with a similar meaning to “leopard” include common leopard, pard and pardal.
What part of speech is “leopard”?
“Leopard” is a noun.
Where does the word “leopard” come from?
The word “leopard” comes from Greek. From Greek leopardos, itself a blend of leon, "lion," and pardos, "male panther" — early naturalists believed the leopard was a cross between the two.
Is “leopard” a common word?
“Leopard” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between a leopard and a jaguar?
Leopards and jaguars look similar because both have rosette-spotted coats, but leopards are native to Africa and Asia while jaguars are found in the Americas. Jaguars also tend to be stockier and more muscular than leopards.
What is the difference between a leopard and a cheetah?
A leopard has a sturdier build with rosette-shaped spots and is a skilled climber that often drags prey into trees, while a cheetah is slimmer, built for speed, and has solid black spots rather than rosettes.
Is a black panther the same as a leopard?
A black panther is not a separate species but a leopard (or sometimes a jaguar) with a genetic condition called melanism that causes an unusually dark, almost black coat, while the rosette pattern is often still faintly visible.
