A the cheat — the "the" usually included even when not grammatically appropriate — is a fictional species from the Homestar Runner franchise. The most prominent member of the species is simply known as The Cheat, but other members of the species have been shown in the "Cheat Commandos" in-universe cartoon, as well as the existence of pups and The Cheat having female family members being mentioned by the main cast (albeit not seen).

The cheats have yellow, furred bodies with spots similar to a cheetah (though this is a coincidence rather than an intentional pun, as the design predates the name), and an unusual body shape described as resembling "a cheese or an anvil". They also hatch from eggs and are mentioned as having claws (though The Cheat has lost his).