jaguar

noun

jag·​uar ˈja-ˌgwär How to pronounce jaguar (audio) -gyə-ˌwär How to pronounce jaguar (audio)
-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

Illustration of jaguar

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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 The children survived the plane crash that killed their mother, the pilot and the only other adult on board, and then got through the dense jungle, alive with jaguars, snakes and mosquitoes, and had to contend with stormy weather and little in the way of food or sustenance. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 July 2024 Intrepid travelers arrive here for incredible natural wonders like Kaieteur Falls–among the world’s largest single-drop waterfalls by volume–and astounding wildlife that includes jaguars, giant river otters, and more than 800 species of birds. Terry Ward, TIME, 25 July 2024 The area is also a migratory route for jaguars and ocelots traveling to and from breeding grounds in Mexico. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 22 May 2024 Top predators such as the jaguar are not easy to bring back socially, generally. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for jaguar 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jaguar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi jawára large carnivore

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jaguar was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near jaguar

Cite this Entry

“Jaguar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jaguar. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

jaguar

noun
jag·​uar ˈjag(-yə)-ˌwär How to pronounce jaguar (audio)
: a large yellowish brown black-spotted cat of tropical America that is larger and has a more solid build than the leopard

More from Merriam-Webster on jaguar

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