bovine

adjective

bo·​vine ˈbō-ˌvīn  -ˌvēn 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling bovines and especially the ox or cow

a bovine disease

2

: having qualities (such as placidity or dullness) characteristic of oxen or cows

had a stupid, bovine expression on his face

bovinely adverb

bovinity

bō-ˈvi-nə-tē 

noun

Did you know?

Bovine comes from the Latin word for "cow", though the biological family called the Bovidae actually includes not only cows and oxen but also goats, sheep, bison, and buffalo. So bovine is often used technically, when discussing "bovine diseases", "bovine anatomy", and so on. It can also describe a human personality, though it can be a rather unkind way to describe someone. When Hera, the wife of Zeus, is called "cow-eyed", though, it's definitely a compliment, and Zeus fairly melts when she turns those big bovine eyes on him.

Examples of bovine in a Sentence

She stared at us with a stupid, bovine expression.

Recent Examples on the Web

But this substance that's uniquely tailored for newborns is also receiving plenty of attention from adults who've taken to chugging bovine colostrum. —Ari Daniel, NPR, 1 June 2026

But this week, ahead of his debut at the Indianapolis 500, Schumacher’s task was of a bovine variety. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 22 May 2026

The group is also planning a bovine airlift — one of its signature moves — of 30,000 dairy cows from the US to Algeria. —Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 19 May 2026

Studies of flies found on dairy farms and cattle ranches have shown that these insects are major spreaders of pathogens like salmonella, Moraxella bovis (pinkeye), and spreadable pathogens of bovine respiratory disease. —Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin bovinus, from Latin bov-, bos ox, cow — more at cow

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bovine

• bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Rhymes for bovine

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• brucine
• byline
• canine

Kids Definition

bovine

1 of 2 adjective

bo·​vine ˈbō-ˌvīn 

-ˌvēn

1

: of, relating to, or resembling the bovines and especially the ox or cow

2

: slow-moving or patient like an ox or cow

bovine

2 of 2 noun

: any of a group of ruminant mammals including the oxen, bison, and buffalo that have hollow horns and are related to the sheep and goats

Medical Definition

bovine

noun

bo·​vine ˈbō-ˌvīn  -ˌvēn 

: an ox (genus Bos) or a closely related animal

bovine adjective