: 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 alsocatamount, mountain lion, panther, puma
2
slang: a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man
in many regions, suburban developments have encroached upon the habitat of the cougar
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At lower elevations, visitors can find moose, elk and a wealth of other herbivores grazing along the grasslands, while truly fortunate visitors might catch a glimpse of a cougar surveying the forest for prey.—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Here's where in Michigan composting is helping When did cougars go extinct in Michigan?—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2024 There had been two cat tracks and two cougars on the orange cliffs behind us.—Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025 Over 25 years of living in Montana, Lyons said the pair marked his 36th and 37th wild cougar sightings.—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cougar
Word History
Etymology
French couguar, modification of New Latin cuguacuarana, from Tupi sɨwasuarána, from sɨwásu deer + -ran resembling
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