What is a puma? How does the definition of a puma differ from the more widely known cougar? A puma is more than athletic shoe. It isa slang term for a woman's dating life and, more specifically, the age of the partner she seeks. However, there are two conflicting definitions of a puma (as the term refers to women) and the word appears to have different meanings in the US and the UK as it continues to change and evolve over time.