SINCE 1828
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bighorn sheep

noun
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big·​horn sheep | \ ˈbig-ˌhȯrn- How to pronounce bighorn sheep (audio) \
variants: or less commonly bighorn
plural bighorn sheep also bighorns or bighorn

Definition of bighorn sheep

: a usually grayish-brown wild sheep (Ovis canadensis) of mountainous and desert regions of western North America

Note: The bighorn sheep has a white patch on the rump and, in the males, massive horns that curve up and back over the ears and then up and forward toward the cheeks.

Illustration of bighorn sheep

Illustration of bighorn sheep

Examples of bighorn sheep in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For now, the land remains an open expanse of the Colorado Desert, where coyotes and bighorn sheep roam. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2022 The park recommends staying at least 25 yards away from large animals like bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes, and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. — Bradford Betz, Fox News, 1 July 2022 Visitors are asked to stay at least 25 yards away from all large animals including elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes, per the park. — Giovana Gelhoren, PEOPLE.com, 29 June 2022 Will the Arches social media team continue to be able to post about bighorn sheep, desert varnish and other fascinating features of the park? — Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 Bristlecones provide shade to elk and bighorn sheep, and shelter chipmunks and jack rabbits from predators and fierce weather. — Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 14 July 2022 The groups cite potential harm to grizzly bears, wolverines, lynx, bighorn sheep, whitebark pine trees, Columbia spotted frogs and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 6 June 2022 Dinosaurs like Pachycephalosaurus had sturdy skulls, and knocking heads remains common in bighorn sheep, chameleons and even whales. — New York Times, 2 June 2022 Rocky terrain species like bighorn sheep, bison, antelope and deer can be best spotted in the Tower-Roosevelt area aloft Yellowstone’s cliffs. — Fox News, 21 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bighorn sheep.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of bighorn sheep

1817, in the meaning defined above

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Time Traveler for bighorn sheep

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The first known use of bighorn sheep was in 1817

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Dictionary Entries Near bighorn sheep

Bighorn Mountains

bighorn sheep

big house

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Statistics for bighorn sheep

Last Updated

24 Sep 2022

Cite this Entry

“Bighorn sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bighorn%20sheep. Accessed 24 Sep. 2022.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bighorn sheep

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bighorn sheep

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