Lion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈlī-ən/ li·on

Meaning & Definition of Lion

Lion (noun)

  1. 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
  2. any of several large wildcats; especially, cougar
  3. leo

Lion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field

    "the book festival brought together two lions of contemporary poetry for a joint reading"

    similar: baron, captain, czar, king, lord, magnate, mogul, monarch, Napoleon, prince, tycoon
    related: big boy, big cheese, bigfoot, biggie, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, fat cat, figure, heavy, heavyweight, honcho, kahuna, main man, mover and shaker, nabob, nawab, notable, personage, pooh-bah, supremo (chiefly British), VIP, celebrity, personality, star, superstar, deity, demigod, god
    near: half-pint, lightweight, small-timer, inferior, subordinate, underling, nobody, nothing, zero

Related Entry: Lion's share (noun)

Lion's share is a different word from Lion. The synonyms below are for lion's share, not for lion.

  1. the largest part or quantity of something

    "the lead actress deservedly got the lion's share of credit for the show's success"

    "the lion's share of ballots went the incumbent's way"

    similar: bulk, generality, majority, mass, preponderance
    related: plurality, maximum, most, abundance, heap, loads, lot, much, oodles, plenty, profusion, reams, scads, wealth
    opposite: minority
    near: couple, few, handful, smattering, sprinkling, least, minimum

Related Entry: Mountain lion (noun)

Mountain lion is a different word from Lion. The synonyms below are for mountain lion, not for lion.

  1. a large tawny cat of the wild

    "the problems created by mountain lions coming into contact with humans in suburban developments"

    similar: cat-a-mountain, catamount, cougar, panther, puma

Related Entry: Cougar (noun)

Cougar is a different word from Lion. The synonyms below are for cougar, not for lion.

  1. a large tawny cat of the wild

    "in many regions, suburban developments have encroached upon the habitat of the cougar"

    similar: catamount, cat-a-mountain, mountain lion, panther, puma

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lion

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lion:

baron, captain, czar, king, lord, magnate, mogul, monarch, Napoleon, prince, tycoon

Related Words for Lion

big boy, big cheese, bigfoot, biggie, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, fat cat, figure, heavy, heavyweight, honcho, kahuna, main man, mover and shaker, nabob, nawab, notable, personage, pooh-bah, supremo, VIP, celebrity, personality, star, superstar, deity, demigod, god

Near Antonyms of Lion

half-pint, lightweight, small-timer, inferior, subordinate, underling, nobody, nothing, zero

Word Forms of Lion

Inflections: lions

Derived words: lionlike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Lion

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

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Lion

Words & Phrases Containing Lion

lion's den, lion's mane, lion's share, ant lion, aphid lion, California sea lion, golden lion tamarin, mountain lion

Frequently Asked Questions about Lion

What does "Lion" mean?

"Lion" means 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. As a noun, it is defined as: 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.

What is another word for "Lion"?

Other words for "Lion" include baron, captain, czar, king, lord, magnate, mogul and monarch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lion" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lion"?

There are 41 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lion". Common alternatives include baron, captain, czar, king, lord, magnate, mogul, monarch, Napoleon and prince.

How do you use "Lion" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lion" in a sentence: "the book festival brought together two lions of contemporary poetry for a joint reading".

Is "Lion" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lion" is a noun.

Is "Lion" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Lion" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Lion"?

"Lion" is pronounced /ˈlī-ən/ and divided into syllables as li·on.

What is the origin of the word "Lion"?

"Lion" comes from Middle English lioun, from Anglo-French leun, lion, from Latin leon-, leo, from Greek leōn. First known use: 12th century.