'Panthera' originates from Latin, adopted from Greek 'panthēr' (πανθήρ), where the Greek word referred to a large (often spotted) cat.

'Panthera' passed from Greek 'panthēr' into Latin as 'panthera' and was later used in modern scientific Latin to designate the genus 'Panthera' in zoological classification.

Initially it meant 'a large (often spotted) cat' in common language, but over time it became the formal scientific genus name for several 'big cats' in taxonomy.