Paul Bunyan

noun

Paul Bun·​yan -ˈbən-yən How to pronounce Paul Bunyan (audio)
: a giant lumberjack of American folklore

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett, Mike Fink, Pecos Bill, John Henry. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2021 And then there's that whole Paul Bunyan, lumberjack look. Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2021 Wood plays a role in American folklore, housing Abe Lincoln and employing Paul Bunyan. Alana Semuels, Time, 2 June 2021 Best keep your distance from all of them, miscreants — the effect of Paul Bunyan's legendary left hook can be seen in Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park. Katy Read, Star Tribune, 8 May 2021 The thing was massive, the size of Paul Bunyan, if Bunyan were (a) a real person and (b) slightly better dressed. Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2021 There was a restaurant about 15 miles away with a Paul Bunyan statue out in front. Julia A. Morales, Seventeen, 1 Mar. 2023 Frontier tales tell of burly lumberjacks hurling axes to split trees (think Paul Bunyan). Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2023 Seeing one breach the trees on an ORV trail is like watching the forest give birth to Paul Bunyan. Marc Urbano, Car and Driver, 9 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Paul Bunyan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Paul Bunyan was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near Paul Bunyan

Cite this Entry

“Paul Bunyan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Paul%20Bunyan. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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