noun
Uncommon
panther
PAN-thuh
Panther (noun) means a big cat with black fur, especially a black leopard or jaguar. Example: “A panther slipped silently through the jungle undergrowth.”
noun
1
A big cat with black fur, especially a black leopard or jaguar.
"A panther slipped silently through the jungle undergrowth."
2
A cougar, particularly the Florida subspecies.
"Conservationists are working to protect the endangered Florida panther."
How to use panther
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large wild cat, typically referring to a black-coated leopard, jaguar, or cougar.
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Word forms
- Plural
- panthers
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A _____ slipped silently through the jungle undergrowth.
Etymology
From Old French pantere, from Latin panthēra, from Greek pánthēr ("panther").
Related words
Rhymes for panther
See all rhymes for panther →Frequently asked questions
What does “panther” mean?
The word “panther” means a big cat with black fur, especially a black leopard or jaguar. In plain terms, a large wild cat, typically referring to a black-coated leopard, jaguar, or cougar.
How do you pronounce “panther”?
“Panther” is pronounced PAN-thuh (/ˈpænθəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “panther” in a sentence?
Here is “panther” used in a sentence: “A panther slipped silently through the jungle undergrowth.”
What part of speech is “panther”?
“Panther” is a noun.
Where does the word “panther” come from?
The word “panther” comes from Latin. From Old French pantere, from Latin panthēra, from Greek pánthēr ("panther").
Is “panther” a common word?
“Panther” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “panther” have?
“Panther” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a big cat with black fur, especially a black leopard or jaguar.
What is the difference between a "panther" and a "black panther"?
"Panther" can refer generally to a big cat with black fur, especially a black leopard or jaguar, or in North America, to a cougar. "Black panther" specifically emphasizes the black-furred variant, which is a color form of leopards or jaguars rather than a separate species.
Is a panther the same as a jaguar or a leopard?
A panther is often the black-furred form of a leopard or jaguar rather than a distinct species of its own. The name "panther" is typically descriptive of the dark coloring rather than referring to a separate animal.
What is the difference between a "panther" and a "cougar"?
In North America, "panther" is sometimes used specifically for the cougar, particularly the Florida subspecies, rather than for a black leopard or jaguar. This regional usage differs from the more common association of "panther" with black big cats elsewhere.
