Illustration of musk ox
musk ox
noun
: a heavyset, shaggy-coated, bovid mammal (Ovibos moschatus) of tundra regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska with the males producing a strong musky odor from glands beneath the eyes
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet the musk ox amazingly still exists in today’s Arctic world.
—
Jan Brett, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2023
On a beautiful high plateau, another similar-size family of musk ox appeared.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2023
The 36-year-old died Tuesday after a rare attack by a musk ox in Nome, where Worland worked for the Department of Public Safety for 13 years.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Dec. 2022
Officials cannot yet say what will happen to the musk ox involved in the incident.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2022
Reindeer, musk ox, and other creatures of cold areas have evolved similar means to survive in Arctic habitat.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2010
An employee of Alaska’s Department of Public Safety was killed Tuesday on his property in Nome during an encounter with a musk ox.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2022
The National Park Service advises people to stay at least 150 feet away from a musk ox.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2022
The Nome Nugget reported the attack marks the first time that a person was killed by a musk ox in the city.
—CBS News, 14 Dec. 2022
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Jan Brett, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2023
On a beautiful high plateau, another similar-size family of musk ox appeared.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2023
The 36-year-old died Tuesday after a rare attack by a musk ox in Nome, where Worland worked for the Department of Public Safety for 13 years.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Dec. 2022
Officials cannot yet say what will happen to the musk ox involved in the incident.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2022
Reindeer, musk ox, and other creatures of cold areas have evolved similar means to survive in Arctic habitat.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2010
An employee of Alaska’s Department of Public Safety was killed Tuesday on his property in Nome during an encounter with a musk ox.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2022
The National Park Service advises people to stay at least 150 feet away from a musk ox.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2022
The Nome Nugget reported the attack marks the first time that a person was killed by a musk ox in the city.
—CBS News, 14 Dec. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'musk ox.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1744, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near musk ox
Cite this Entry
“Musk ox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musk%20ox. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.
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Kids Definition
musk ox
noun
: a large shaggy-coated wild ox native to Greenland, Canada and Alaska with the males producing a strong odor similar to musk from glands below the eyes
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