lion

noun

li·​on ˈlī-ən How to pronounce lion (audio)
plural lions
Synonyms of lionnext
1
a
or plural lion : a large heavily built social cat (Panthera leo) of open or rocky areas chiefly of sub-Saharan Africa though once widely distributed throughout Africa and southern Asia that has a tawny body with a tufted tail and a shaggy blackish or dark brown mane in the male
b
: any of several large wildcats
especially : cougar sense 1
c
Lion : leo
2
a
: a person felt to resemble a lion (as in courage or ferocity)
b
: a person of outstanding interest or importance
a literary lion
3
Lion [Lions (club)] : a member of a major national and international service club
lionlike
ˈlī-ən-ˌlīk How to pronounce lion (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of lion

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Examples of lion in a Sentence

the roar of the lion He was a literary lion among the writers of his time.
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.
Under that scenario, the Bears' ability to turn around their franchise instantly by hiring Ben Johnson could percolate in the mind of Jets ownership if the team loses to the Titans, Packers and Lions before heading to Chicago. — Mike Sando, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The black walnut double staircase in the center hall foyer has carved lions. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 On the business side, Portofino ’97 Eau de Parfum has consistently been the lion’s share of Victoria Beckham Beauty’s fragrance category, and year-to-date has grown 65 percent, according to the brand. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 But there were unsurprising decisions, as well, like the Lions opting for veteran quarterback Josh Dobbs instead of undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer, who was the biggest-name cut of the day. — Christian Romo, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lion

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lioun, from Anglo-French leun, lion, from Latin leon-, leo, from Greek leōn

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lion was in the 12th century

Phrases Containing lion

Rhymes for lion

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Browse Nearby Words

lio-
lion
lion's beard
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Cite this Entry

“Lion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lion. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lion

noun
li·​on ˈlī-ən How to pronounce lion (audio)
plural lion or lions
: a large flesh-eating mammal of the cat family that has a brownish buff coat, a tufted tail, and in the male a shaggy mane and that lives in open or rocky areas of Africa and formerly southern Asia
lionlike
-ˌlīk How to pronounce lion (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on lion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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