woolly mammoth

noun

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

Illustration of woolly mammoth

Examples of woolly mammoth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In an example of recent gene editing, scientists put woolly mammoth DNA into mice. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025

All of the skeletons belonged to woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius), the extinct relatives of modern elephants. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025

The biotechnology and genetic engineering company had set its sights on reviving the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, the northern white rhinoceros, the dodo bird, and the dire wolf—with the latter reportedly being brought back in October 2024. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

In 2021, Colossal announced plans to de-extinct the woolly mammoth — a concept Church had been developing for years. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

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