panther

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈpænθɚ/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈpænθə/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

Singular panther

Plural panthers

A black panther

1. (countable) A panther is large, wild cat; this most often means an leopard or a mountain lion.

   I enjoyed seeing the panthers at the zoo.

2. (countable) (biology) A member of the genus Panthera (lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars) may be called a panther.
3. (countable) (slang) Panther can mean a member of the Black Panther Party (an African American activist group).

Usage notes

The word panther is used most often for a black panther (a leopard or jaguar with black fur).

Synonyms

• leopard
• mountain lion / cougar / puma
• jaguar
• (biology) pantherine, pantheran

Related words

• black panther
• white panther