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

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars and any hybrid of these species is protected. — Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2026 The cat haven has been operating for 28 years and houses 39 cat species, including cheetahs, bobcats, clouded leopards, cougars and snow leopards. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Rajasi, a 15-year-old clouded leopard who arrived at the Sacramento Zoo in 2025, died last week, the zoo announced Tuesday. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The Sacramento Zoo on Tuesday reported the death of a beloved resident, a clouded leopard named Rajasi, at age 15. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on clouded leopard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clouded leopard

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