ursine

adjective

ur·​sine ˈər-ˌsīn 

1

: of or relating to a bear or the bear family (Ursidae)

2

: suggesting or characteristic of a bear

a lumbering ursine gait

Examples of ursine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The annual celebration of ursine corpulence known as Fat Bear Week has officially begun. — Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2026

Leaf peepers here for the vibrant fall colors get a special treat with the nearby Shadow of the Bear, when, for just 30 minutes a day, the shadows creep over the mountains and form an ursine shape. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2026

Fazbear, the pizza joint’s ursine mascot, as well as Bonnie the Bunny, Chica the Chicken and Foxy the Pirate Fox were the lead animatronics in the original game, released in 2014. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026

Aside from the fact that there hasn’t been a true brown bear, or California grizzly, in the Golden State since in the 1920s, the way the ferocious — albeit slightly skinny — beast was moving looked less ursine and more human. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin ursinus, from ursus bear — more at arctic

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ursine

• beanie
• genie
• sweeney
• sweeny
• teeny
• acini
• aldine
• amine
• arsine
• carinii
• cosine
• delphine