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
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 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Friday confirmed a man and his dog were mauled to death by a black bear in Jerome — marking the first fatal black bear attack in state history. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2025 New information on Florida’s first fatal bear attack revealed the culprit was a 263-pound black bear that broke into the man’s home and killed him and a dog, wildlife officials said. Olivia Lloyd, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025 California Department of Fish and Wildlife and CHP officials collected the male black bear carcass along River Road and Trenton Road in Sonoma County the morning after the crash April 29, the wildlife agency’s spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email. Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2025 The data states the last black bear attack in Collier County happened Jan. 9, 2018. Tayeba Hussein, USA Today, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for black bear

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Black bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20bear. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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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