bison

noun

bi·​son ˈbī-sᵊn How to pronounce bison (audio) -zᵊn How to pronounce bison (audio)
plural bison
: any of several large living or extinct bovine mammals (genus Bison) that have a long, broad head, short, hollow horns, heavy forequarters, a large muscular hump across the shoulders, and a shaggy mane on the head and lower neck and that typically live and migrate in herds: such as
bisontine adjective

Examples of bison in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fly reached southern Mexico in November, sparking concern among US agricultural industry officials and triggering the closure of several border-area cattle, horse and bison trading ports. Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 9 July 2025 This means that hot springs have accounted for more deaths than wildlife at the park, since eight people have died from bear encounters and two people have died from bison encounters. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 July 2025 The total number of bison in a herd can range from about 20 during the winter to an average of about 200 in the summer, the NPS says. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 27 June 2025 Some Yellowstone visitors were left reeling from witnessing a bison’s last moments after the animal fell into one of the park’s hot springs. Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bison

Word History

Etymology

Latin bisont-, bison, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wisant aurochs; akin to Old Prussian wissambrs aurochs

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bison was circa 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Bison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bison. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

bison

noun
plural bison
: any of several large shaggy-maned mammals related to the ox with a large head, short horns, and a large fleshy hump above the shoulders
especially : buffalo sense c

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