Origin story
From Pan, the god associated with sudden wild fear in lonely places.
Why it sticks
A feeling named after a god who could make the landscape feel alive.
Emotion
A feeling named after a god who could make the landscape feel alive.
From Pan, the god associated with sudden wild fear in lonely places.
A feeling named after a god who could make the landscape feel alive.
A short etymology card for panic: origin, meaning history, memorable hook, and source-language context.
Use this page as a public web reference, not an official agency record. The linked official source remains the final authority.
Word Origin Atlas. "Panic Origin and Meaning | Word Origin Atlas". https://www.wordoriginatlas.com/words/panic/. Reviewed Jul 2026.
Source and citation notes