red panda

noun

: a small, largely arboreal mammal (Ailurus fulgens of the family Ailuridae) that resembles the American raccoon, that is found from the Himalayas to China, and that has long rusty or chestnut fur with dark underparts, a long bushy tail with rings, and a white face and inner ears with a dark stripe from the corners of the eyes to the lower jaw

called also lesser panda

Note: The red panda feeds mostly on bamboo, roots, grass, leaves, fruit, acorns, eggs, insects, and small animals (such as birds). It was formerly considered a relative of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) but is now considered more closely related to the raccoons, skunks, and weasels.

Illustration of red panda

Illustration of red panda

Examples of red panda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The other is a red panda named Bad Rudi with a penchant for foul language. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 16 July 2025 Thirteen-year-old Mei is a boy-band-crazy girl whose puberty has a fascinating side effect: her mood swings turn her into a giant red panda. Barry Levitt, Time, 26 June 2025 The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opened in 1965 and USA TODAY ranked its red panda exhibit among the top ten in the nation. Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 10 July 2025 Each red panda sponsorship includes four exclusive updates, along with a certificate of sponsorship. Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for red panda

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red panda was in 1955

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Cite this Entry

“Red panda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20panda. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

red panda

noun
: a long-tailed mammal that is related to and resembles the raccoon, has long reddish brown fur, feeds especially on bamboo leaves, and is found from the Himalayas to China

called also lesser panda

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