Illustration of cougar
- cougar 1
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 partner
Examples of cougar in a Sentence
in many regions, suburban developments have encroached upon the habitat of the cougar
Recent Examples on the Web
There are cougars and hippopotamuses.
—
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
The neighborhood visited by the cougar is several miles from the closest foothills.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The cougars that make their way through Minnesota are believed to be lone wanderers from the Dakotas and Nebraska.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 1 May 2026
The Voyageurs Wolf Project recorded trail camera footage of a female cougar with three large kittens feeding on a deer carcass south of Voyageurs National Park in late March and shared it with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cougar
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
The neighborhood visited by the cougar is several miles from the closest foothills.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The cougars that make their way through Minnesota are believed to be lone wanderers from the Dakotas and Nebraska.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 1 May 2026
The Voyageurs Wolf Project recorded trail camera footage of a female cougar with three large kittens feeding on a deer carcass south of Voyageurs National Park in late March and shared it with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cougar
Cite this Entry
“Cougar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cougar. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
