cougar

noun

cou·​gar ˈkü-gər 

 also  -ˌgär

plural cougars also cougar

1

: a large powerful tawny-brown cat (Puma concolor synonym Felis concolor) formerly widespread in the Americas but now reduced in number or extinct in many areas

called also catamount, mountain lion, panther, puma

2

slang : a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man

Illustration of cougar

• cougar 1

Synonyms

• catamount
• cat-a-mountain
• mountain lion
• panther
• puma

Examples of cougar in a Sentence

in many regions, suburban developments have encroached upon the habitat of the cougar

Recent Examples on the Web

In the last few years, perhaps after an adaptive mutation, bird flu has jumped to a wide number of mammal species, including seals, bears, skunks, foxes, cougars, bobcats, dolphins and even a polar bear. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025

This included one Bengal tiger, four cougars, an African caracal, two Canada lynx, one Geoffroy's cat, a Bengal cat, one Eurasian lynx, four bobcats, and four African servals. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024

The center confirmed in a Friday Facebook post that the virus had killed five African servals, four bobcats, four cougars and two Canada lynx. —Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 25 Dec. 2024

The dog was in the cougar’s jaws as the neighbor fired and didn’t survive the attack, a California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson told McClatchy News in a phone interview Tuesday, Jan. 14. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French couguar, modification of New Latin cuguacuarana, from Tupi sɨwasuarána, from sɨwásu deer + -ran resembling

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cougar

noun

cou·​gar ˈkü-gər 

 also  -ˌgär

plural cougars also cougar

: a large powerful brownish yellow cat formerly widespread in the Americas but no longer found in many areas

called also catamount, mountain lion, panther, puma