puma

noun

plural pumas also puma
Synonyms of pumanext
: cougar sense 1
also : the fur or pelt of a cougar

Examples of puma in a Sentence

adult pumas can sometimes weigh over 200 pounds
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The puma was fitted with a GPS-tracking collar as part of a University of California, Santa Cruz study, loaded onto a crate and taken to a spot in the Santa Cruz Mountains where it was released, the CDFW said. Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 June 2026 Today, more than 900 sites use the platform across six continents and 90 countries, deploying it to track everything from pumas in Chile to chimpanzees in Rwandan rainforests. Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 18 May 2026 The population could go extinct without intervention, and state wildlife officials listed the pumas as threatened earlier this year. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 Thousands of Patagonian penguins are being killed by pumas, though many without being eaten. Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for puma

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puma was in 1774

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puma. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

puma

noun
pu·​ma ˈp(y)ü-mə How to pronounce puma (audio)
plural pumas also puma
: cougar

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