grizzly bear

noun

: a very large brown bear (Ursus arctos) of northwestern North America

Note: The grizzly bear is the same species as the brown bear, but grizzly bear is typically used for the North American brown bear and not the European or Asian brown bear. In the U.S., grizzly bear is most often used for a brown bear of inland habitats (as in Montana and western Canada) that is typically smaller than coastal brown bears and usually has lighter-colored tips on the fur. The grizzly bear is often considered a subspecies (Ursus arctos horribilis) of the brown bear and, especially formerly, a separate species (Ursus horribilis).

The brown bears of Kodiak Island, the grizzly bears of the Rocky Mountains and interior Alaska, the European brown bear, all are now considered to be the same species, Ursus arctos, despite tremendous variation in color, size, and habits.

—Natural History

called also grizzly

Examples of grizzly bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Two men were picking mushrooms in Montana when a grizzly bear charged at them, wildlife officials said. —Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025

The last time a bear was euthanized in the park was in September 2017, when the park removed a grizzly bear that was damaging tents and accessing human food in backcountry campsites at Heart Lake, according to Yellowstone. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 19 May 2025

While Denali is home to well over 200 animal species, the park is perhaps best known for one mammal in particular: the grizzly bear. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

After decades of being listed as threatened in the lower 48 states under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the population has grown to at least 1,923 grizzly bears in the 48 contiguous states. —CBS News, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grizzly bear

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Kids Definition

grizzly bear

noun

: a large powerful brown bear found from the lower 48 to Alaska