woolly mammoth

noun

: a heavy-coated mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) formerly inhabiting the colder parts of the northern hemisphere

Illustration of woolly mammoth

Illustration of woolly mammoth

Examples of woolly mammoth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In the past, Colossal has also revealed plans to revive other species of extinct animals like the Tasmanian tiger, New Zealand’s giant moa, and woolly mammoths. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025 Similar efforts to bring back the woolly mammoth, the thylacine — better known as the Tasmanian tiger — and another flightless bird, the moa, are also underway. Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 To begin with, there were woolly mammoths on either side of it, suggesting the lineage was an offshoot of woolly mammoths. John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025 Earlier this year, the company unveiled its Colossal Woolly Mouse, which was genetically engineered to have characteristics that could eventually be used in creating a next-generation woolly mammoth embryo to be born by a female elephant. Mike Snider, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for woolly mammoth

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of woolly mammoth was in 1874

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Cite this Entry

“Woolly mammoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woolly%20mammoth. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

woolly mammoth

noun
: an extinct mammal that was a heavy-coated mammoth of cold northern regions and is known from fossils, from the drawings of prehistoric human beings, and from entire dead frozen bodies dug up in Siberia

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