black bear

noun

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

Illustration of black bear

Examples of black bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But one unnamed black bear (Ursus americanus) eating at Anan Creek in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest decided to park underneath a waterfall and enjoy his fishy snack. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Nov. 2026

Hunters harvested 89 black bears last week during Maryland's annual hunt of the animals across four counties, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Monday. — CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Most states have laws that specifically ban feeding wildlife, especially game species such as mule deer or black bears, according to Choate. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 31 Oct. 2026

Keep an eye out for native birds, alligators, otters and the occasional black bear. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for black bear

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

black bear

noun

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