A lioness is a female lion. While male lions are known for their impressive manes, lionesses do most of the hunting for their family group, called a pride. Working together in coordinated teams, lionesses stalk and chase prey across the African savanna, using strategy and teamwork to bring down animals much larger than themselves.

Lionesses are also fiercely protective mothers. They raise their cubs together, with all the females in a pride helping to care for and defend the young lions. If danger threatens their cubs, a lioness will fight fearlessly, even against larger predators.

The word lioness can also describe a woman who shows courage, strength, and protective instincts. You might hear someone say that a mother defending her children fought “like a lioness,” or that an athlete competing with fierce determination had the “heart of a lioness.” The word captures both physical strength and a powerful drive to protect those you care about.