wolverine

noun

wol·​ver·​ine ˌwu̇l-və-ˈrēn How to pronounce wolverine (audio)
plural wolverines
1
plural also wolverine
a
: a carnivorous usually solitary mammal (Gulo gulo) of the weasel family of northern forests and associated tundra that is dark brown with a light brown band on each side of the body and is noted for its strength
b
: the fur of the wolverine
2
capitalized : a native or resident of Michigan
used as a nickname

Illustration of wolverine

Illustration of wolverine
  • wolverine 1a

Examples of wolverine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Thanks to some stellar surgery, however, the wolverine survived and, nearly two decades later, made the trip with Campbell from Ann Arbor to the 305. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The announcement comes on the heels of an ultra-successful season in which Harbaugh led the University of Michigan to their first national championship since 1997 and after a nine-year stint as the wolverines’ head coach. Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 25 Jan. 2024 Here's a look at some of the more notable ones: A sticker featuring a wolverine facing left with a number on it denotes a win. Kevin Skiver, Detroit Free Press, 8 Jan. 2024 Smaller mammals today are known to sometimes attack much larger prey, including wolverines attacking moose or caribou. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 July 2023 Expand All Bruce Campbell had arguably the most traumatic experience a young Michigan fan could have at the age of 8: an Ohio State fan stabbed his inflatable wolverine. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Officials have debated for decades whether wolverines in the contiguous U.S. deserve protection. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023 Population counts are difficult to nail down, and there’s a chance that the total number of wolverines is actually much lower than 300. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Nov. 2023 Climate change has been a threat to wolverines in the U.S. for more than a decade; the loss of the wolverine's wintry habitat has been linked to climate change. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wolverine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably irregular from wolv- (as in wolves)

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of wolverine was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near wolverine

Cite this Entry

“Wolverine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wolverine. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wolverine

noun
wol·​ver·​ine ˌwu̇l-və-ˈrēn How to pronounce wolverine (audio)
plural wolverines also wolverine
: a mostly dark brown mammal with shaggy fur that is related to the weasels, martens, and sables, eats flesh, and is found chiefly in northern forests

More from Merriam-Webster on wolverine

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