# panther

/ˈpænθɝ/ (US) · /pˈɑːnθɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/panther
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. black wild cat

noun · CEFR B2

a large wild cat with black fur, usually a leopard or a jaguar.

For teachers: a large felid, specifically a melanistic (black-coated) variant of a leopard or jaguar.

- The black panther moved silently through the dark trees of the jungle.
- The documentary captured rare footage of a black panther stalking its prey through the dense undergrowth of the Malaysian rainforest.

### 2. biological genus

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

any of the big cats in the group that includes lions, tigers, and leopards.

For teachers: any big cat belonging to the genus Panthera, which includes the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar.

- Scientists study the panther family to understand how big cats evolved.
- Taxonomically, the term refers to any member of the genus Panthera, though in common parlance it is often restricted to melanistic individuals.

### 3. political member

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a member of the Black Panther Party, a group that fought for the rights of Black people.

For teachers: a member of the Black Panther Party, a revolutionary socialist political organisation founded in the United States.

- He read a book about what it was like to be a Panther in the 1960s.
- The former Panther spoke at the university about the party's community survival programmes and their influence on civil rights history.

### 4. mythological creature

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a magical cat-like creature from old stories that breathes fire.

For teachers: a legendary creature in Greek mythology and heraldry, often depicted as a multi-coloured cat that breathes fire or sweet-smelling breath.

- The knight's shield was decorated with a colourful panther breathing flames.
- In medieval bestiaries, the panther was described as a gentle beast whose fragrant breath attracted other animals.

## Examples

- The black panther moved silently through the dark jungle.
- Wildlife photographers spent weeks in the rainforest hoping to capture a rare glimpse of a black panther.
- The term panther does not refer to a distinct species but rather serves as a broad designation for several large cats exhibiting a dark pigment mutation known as melanism.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.