panther
panther Lexical Profile
panther Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large wild cat, most commonly a leopard or jaguar, that has a solid black coat due to a melanistic color variant.
"The sleek black panther disappeared silently into the dense shadows of the jungle foliage."
North American A cougar or puma, especially the endangered subspecies found in the southeastern United States.
"Conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the remaining population of the Florida panther from habitat loss."
Word Nuance & Usage
A panther is not a distinct biological species; the term is used broadly to describe melanistic (black) leopards in Africa and Asia, melanistic jaguars in South America, and cougars in North America.
• Rhymes for panther
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'pantere', via Old French from Latin 'panthera', tracing back to ancient Greek 'panthēr'. Often historically linked by folk etymology to Greek 'pan' (all) and 'thēr' (beast).