tiger

noun

ti·​ger ˈtī-gər How to pronounce tiger (audio)
plural tigers
Synonyms of tigernext
1
plural also tiger
a
: a large Asian carnivorous mammal (Panthera tigris) of the cat family having a usually tawny coat transversely striped with black
b
: any of several large wildcats (such as the jaguar or cougar)
c
: a domestic cat with striped pattern
d
Australia : tasmanian tiger
2
a
: a fierce, daring, or aggressive person or quality
aroused the tiger in him
a tiger for work
b
: someone or something (such as a situation) that is formidable or impossible to control
… how the tiger of inflation can be tamed.—J. A. Davenport
—often used in the phrases ride a tiger and have a tiger by the tail
3
British : a groom in livery
tigerish
ˈtī-g(ə-)rish How to pronounce tiger (audio)
adjective
tigerishly adverb
tigerishness noun
tigerlike
ˈtī-gər-ˌlīk How to pronounce tiger (audio)
adjective

Illustration of tiger

Illustration of tiger
  • tiger 1a

Synonyms of tiger

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Examples of tiger in a Sentence

He was a tiger on the basketball court. even the best defense can't keep that tiger from scoring
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.
One of the most celebrated objects from the India Museum is a mechanical wooden sculpture of a ferocious tiger gnawing at a British soldier’s throat. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 The couple was involved in transactions that saw American black bear gallbladders and cougar bones being smuggled into Vietnam, as well as black and white rhinoceros horns, lion teeth and a tiger pelt being illegally imported to Oregon. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 Finished in the label’s tiger yellow with bold black striping, the bike gave the collaboration a tangible centerpiece beyond the clothes. — Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 Here, sand tigers up to 4 years old and measuring between 3 and 5 feet long summer from July to September. — Asia London Palomba, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tiger

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tigre, from Old English tiger & Anglo-French tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Greek, probably of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan tighra- pointed; akin to Greek stizein to tattoo — more at stick

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tiger was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing tiger

Rhymes for tiger

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Browse Nearby Words

tigella
tiger
tiger's-claw
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

tiger

noun
ti·​ger ˈtī-gər How to pronounce tiger (audio)
plural tigers also tiger
1
: a large Asian flesh-eating mammal of the same family as the domestic cat with a coat that is typically light brown to orange with mostly vertical black stripes
2
: any of several large wildcats (as the jaguar or cougar)
3
: a domestic cat with a striped coat

More from Merriam-Webster on tiger

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tiger

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