clouded leopard

noun

cloud·​ed leopard ˈklau̇-dəd- How to pronounce clouded leopard (audio)
: either of two medium-sized, often arboreal cats (Neofelis nebulosa of mainland southeast Asia and N. diardi of Borneo and Sumatra) that are grayish to yellowish with darker irregular rings, ovals, and rosettes
… new analysis shows the clouded leopards of Borneo (and also Sumatra) are a bit darker than their mainland cousins, with smaller cloud-shaped markings.— Helen Fields

Examples of clouded leopard in a Sentence

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Nashville Zoo announced the birth of a female clouded leopard March 11. — Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025 Despite their name, clouded leopards are not a leopard at all, and belong to their own species, the Smithsonian said. — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2025 This was where others posting on the mammal-watching website reported seeing some of the rarest wildlife, including tree-dwelling clouded leopards and diminutive sun bears, the smallest species of bear in the world. — Mihir Zaveri, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025 Infections have previously been reported in other big and wild cat species, including Asian golden cats, Amur leopards and clouded leopards. — Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for clouded leopard

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clouded leopard was in 1903

Rhymes for clouded leopard

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Browse Nearby Words

cloud ear
clouded leopard
clouded sulphur
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Cite this Entry

“Clouded leopard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clouded%20leopard. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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