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.
Just like wolves, bison, pronghorns, prairie dogs, beavers, and monarch butterflies, these bears are on the list of epic species inhabiting North America — which means that any immigration- and tariff-related threats and decisions made by the region’s countries invariably affect them as well. Ganesh Marín, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025 Choose from beef, bison, chicken, and turkey, or a vegetarian burger. Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025 The closure shrouds the 8,000-foot-high plateau and its elk, bison and occasional backcountry skiers in a winter wilderness that some advocates hope to protect and others seek to unlock. Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 5 Oct. 2025 Animals like the black-footed ferret, American bison and Hawaiian monk seal are only found in the United States. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 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 8 Oct. 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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