jaguar

noun

jag·​uar ˈja-ˌgwär  -gyə-ˌwär 

-gwər;

 dialectal  -gwī(-ə)r,

 especially British  ˈja-gyə-wər

plural jaguars also jaguar

: a large cat (Panthera onca) chiefly of Central and South America that is larger and stockier than the leopard and is brownish yellow or buff with black spots

Illustration of jaguar

Did you know?

The jaguar is the largest New World cat. It was once found in wooded regions from the U.S.-Mexican border south to Patagonia, Currently, the jaguar survives, in reduced numbers, only in remote areas of Central and South America; the largest known population is in the Amazon rain forest. The male is 5.5-9.0 ft. (1.7-2.7 m) long, including the tail, which measures 23-35-in. (60-90-cm) long, and weighs 220-350 lbs. (100-160 kg). The coat is typically orange-tan with black spots arranged in rosettes with a black spot in the center. A solitary predator, the jaguar usually hunts rodents, deer, birds, and fish; it will also take cattle, horses, and dogs.

Examples of jaguar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Look at the zip-lining, jaguar Jaxson de Ville of the Jacksonville Jaguars or the record-breaking, rope-swinging bird Freddie Falcon of the Atlanta Falcons, for example. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025

The treatment began with a healing ceremony in the spa’s lush outdoor lounge, where a small orchestra of local instruments re-created the sounds of the jungle, complete with jaguar screams. —Brittani Sonnenberg, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2025

Yet another jaguar spotted in Arizona?Trail camera captures 8th seen in US since 1996 Are jaguars endangered animals? —Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024

Maistre undoubtedly has done some profound good by working with rescue jaguars and protecting the remainder of their lives in an animal sanctuary. —Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi jawára large carnivore

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

jaguar

noun

jag·​uar ˈjag(-yə)-ˌwär 

: a large yellowish brown black-spotted cat of tropical America that is larger and has a more solid build than the leopard