plural bruins
: bear sense 1
Bears are the most popular animals in a number of our national parks. In the Smokies, where the population of bruins runs into the hundreds, opportunities to observe these large wild animals are plentiful during the summer.—
Edward Spargo and Glenn R. Williston
Edward Spargo and Glenn R. WillistonA disturbing and all-too-common sign of a feeding bear is an overturned garbage can … its contents scattered about as the bruin searched for something edible in the trash.—Charles Fergus
Charles FergusExamples of bruin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The park is famous for its hiking trails, abundant wildlife like the bruin buddy above, and vibrant flora.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
That was more than 100 pounds heavier than the state’s previous big bruin, a 620-pound black bear caught in Paisley in Lake county in 2013.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Some people say that the Eaton fire in Altadena worsened the situation, driving bruins whose habitat was destroyed into residential areas to seek food, water and shelter.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The beers used in traditional recipes include Oud bruin (a Flanders Brown that’s rich and sour), Trappist ales (like Chimay or Westmalle) or Abbey-style dubbels.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bruin
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.
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
That was more than 100 pounds heavier than the state’s previous big bruin, a 620-pound black bear caught in Paisley in Lake county in 2013.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Some people say that the Eaton fire in Altadena worsened the situation, driving bruins whose habitat was destroyed into residential areas to seek food, water and shelter.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The beers used in traditional recipes include Oud bruin (a Flanders Brown that’s rich and sour), Trappist ales (like Chimay or Westmalle) or Abbey-style dubbels.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bruin
Cite this Entry
“Bruin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bruin. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bruin
noun
bru·in
ˈbrü-ən 
Etymology
from Bruin, name of a bear in literature, from early Dutch bruin "brown"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
