bruin

noun

bru·​in ˈbrü-ən 

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

A 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

Examples of bruin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

LaFreniere said the bear had just about worked its way out of the snare, with the cable loop barely holding the bruin by a claw. —Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 22 Oct. 2025

Vying for the honor of being named the chonkiest bear is about much more than stardom for these bruins. —Gloria Dickie, Outside, 24 Sep. 2025

Voting begins for 2025 Fat Bear Week The beefiest of all bruins are about to vie for the crown to become this year's heavyweight champion, as the 11th-annual Fat Bear Week -- a sensation that captures the attention of millions across the globe -- is set to begin. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025

Hunt a limited number of mature bruins and that guarantees the survival of more cubs. —Chris Dorsey, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle Dutch, name of the bear in Reynard the Fox

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bruin

• dewan
• ruin
• siouan

Kids Definition

bruin

noun

bru·​in ˈbrü-ən 

: bear entry 1 sense 1

Etymology

from Bruin, name of a bear in literature, from early Dutch bruin "brown"