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 man
Examples of cougar in a Sentence
in many regions, suburban developments have encroached upon the habitat of the cougar
Recent Examples on the Web
And though mountain lion sightings tend to be less common in the northern portion of the state than in Southern California, a cougar was spotted a short distance away from Fairfield in downtown Vacaville in August, McClatchy News previously reported.
—
Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2025
Though it was written around the time of Malibu’s Woolsey fire, the 14-minute long dirge that encompasses flames in Malibu and a cougar that roams the hills took on a new and sinister meaning in the aftermath of the more recent fires.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 19 May 2025
The last known instance of a wild cougar being legally hunted was recorded in 1906 near Newberry, according to the DNR.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2025
The center said a variety of cats have died from the outbreak, including cougars, bobcats and African servals.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 25 Dec. 2024
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Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2025
Though it was written around the time of Malibu’s Woolsey fire, the 14-minute long dirge that encompasses flames in Malibu and a cougar that roams the hills took on a new and sinister meaning in the aftermath of the more recent fires.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 19 May 2025
The last known instance of a wild cougar being legally hunted was recorded in 1906 near Newberry, according to the DNR.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2025
The center said a variety of cats have died from the outbreak, including cougars, bobcats and African servals.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 25 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cougar
Cite this Entry
“Cougar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cougar. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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
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