cheetah

noun

chee·​tah ˈchē-tə 

plural cheetahs also cheetah

: a long-legged, swift-moving cat (Acinonyx jubatus) about the size of a small leopard with a yellowish to tan coat covered with numerous round to oval black spots and blunt claws that only partially retract and having a current range restricted to Africa and isolated parts of Iran

Illustration of cheetah

Did you know?

A cheetah is a slender, long-legged cat that lives on the plains of Africa and in the Middle East, where it is threatened with extinction. It is the fastest land animal in the world over short distances and can reach a speed of 60 mph (100 kph). Its claws differ from those of other cats in being only partly retractable and lacking protective sheaths. Cheetahs purr rather than roar. Cheetahs grow to about 55 in. (140 cm) long, excluding the 29-31-in. (75-80-cm) tail, and weigh 110-130 lbs. (50-60 kg). Their coarse fur is sandy yellow above, white below, and covered with small black spots; a black streak runs down the face from the corner of each eye.

Examples of cheetah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Making clothes fit for the ice age In November, a team in Wyoming proposed the idea that Paleolithic North Americans likely made needles using the bones of foxes, hares, rabbits, bobcats, mountain lions, lynx, and even the now-extinct American cheetah. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Dec. 2024

Women’s Studio Pocket Legging These leggings come in a fierce cheetah print along with two other bold hues, all of which feature three handy pockets for storing your valuables on the go. —Sophie Mendel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024

The team was surprised to learn that the bones came from a variety of smaller animals, such as rabbits, bobcats, red foxes, mountain lions, lynx and the now-extinct American cheetah. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024

While on the grounds, my family and I spied cheetahs and elephants — forcing my sons to forget all about their iPads. —Emily Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hindi cītā & Urdu chītā leopard, from Sanskrit citraka, from citra bright, variegated; akin to Old High German heitar bright — more at -hood

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cheetah

noun

chee·​tah ˈchēt-ə 

: a long-legged spotted African and formerly Asian cat that is the fastest of all animals on land