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
Instead, drawing on other studies, the scientists show elk numbers were brought down by multiple predators: grizzly and black bears, cougars, wolves, and human hunters.
—
Byvirginia Morell, science.org, 23 Oct. 2024
Nicole Kidman, who’s been coming into her own as one of cinema’s reigning cougars courtesy of her multiple on-screen romances with Zac Efron, plays a CEO who gets involved with a much-younger intern (the aforementioned Dickinson, who’s shown excellent taste in directors).
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
In the last few years, perhaps after an adaptive mutation, bird flu has jumped to a wide number of mammal species, including seals, bears, skunks, foxes, cougars, bobcats, dolphins and even a polar bear.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
This included one Bengal tiger, four cougars, an African caracal, two Canada lynx, one Geoffroy's cat, a Bengal cat, one Eurasian lynx, four bobcats, and four African servals.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cougar
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Byvirginia Morell, science.org, 23 Oct. 2024
Nicole Kidman, who’s been coming into her own as one of cinema’s reigning cougars courtesy of her multiple on-screen romances with Zac Efron, plays a CEO who gets involved with a much-younger intern (the aforementioned Dickinson, who’s shown excellent taste in directors).
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
In the last few years, perhaps after an adaptive mutation, bird flu has jumped to a wide number of mammal species, including seals, bears, skunks, foxes, cougars, bobcats, dolphins and even a polar bear.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
This included one Bengal tiger, four cougars, an African caracal, two Canada lynx, one Geoffroy's cat, a Bengal cat, one Eurasian lynx, four bobcats, and four African servals.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cougar
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Cite this Entry
“Cougar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cougar. Accessed 3 Mar. 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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