black bear

noun

: the common North American bear (Ursus americanus) ranging in color from brown or typical black to white

Illustration of black bear

Illustration of black bear

Examples of black bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One family member took meat to the reunion from a black bear hunted in Canada. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 15 Oct. 2024 Hunting for deer, elk, bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain lion, and wild turkey in the monument is managed by Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 3 Oct. 2024 The ranges serve as important habitat corridors for species like the ocelot, jaguar and black bear, enabling them to move widely in search of food, mates and shelter. Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct. 2024 The state’s black bear population is currently estimated to be between 50,000-81,000. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for black bear 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black bear.' 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

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black bear was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near black bear

Cite this Entry

“Black bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20bear. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

black bear

noun
: the common usually black-furred bear found in North American forests

More from Merriam-Webster on black bear

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