serval

noun

ser·​val ˈsər-vəl How to pronounce serval (audio)
(ˌ)sər-ˈval
: a long-legged African wildcat (Leptailurus serval) having large ears and a tawny black-spotted coat

Illustration of serval

Illustration of serval

Examples of serval 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.
My favorite touch was the large bench in the walk-in dressing room, carved in the shape of a serval—a wild cat native to sub-Saharan Africa. — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026 According to the African Wildlife Foundation, serval cats are most commonly found on savannas and possess long necks and legs that enable them to see over tall grass. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025 The wildlife center said the latest sighting of the African serval was near the Berks County Memorial Gardens in Fleetwood. — Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2025 The 40-acre facility has among its list of roughly 1,600 critters, penguins, binturongs, sharks, dingoes, Flemish giant rabbits, servals, tree frogs, capuchin monkeys, moon jellyfish, pythons and orangutans. — Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for serval

Word History

Etymology

French, from Portuguese lobo cerval lynx, from Medieval Latin lupus cervalis, literally, deerlike wolf

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of serval was in 1834

Rhymes for serval

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Browse Nearby Words

serv
serval
servaline
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Cite this Entry

“Serval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serval. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about serval

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