black bear

noun

: the common North American bear (Ursus americanus) ranging in color from brown or typical black to white

Illustration of black bear

Illustration of black bear

Examples of black bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Beyond its natural beauty, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to southern Appalachian culture and around 1,500 American black bears (that’s approximately two bears per square mile.). Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 The state is now home to an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 black bears. Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 1 Nov. 2023 According to Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environment Protection (DEEP), black bears have a keen sense of smell. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Oct. 2023 In fact, black bear populations across the country have risen dramatically over the last 50 years. Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2023 Other popular parks on the list include Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado in fourth, home to big game like elk and moose, and Big Bend National Park in Texas in fifth, home to everything from black bears to Chuckwalla lizards. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2024 If the outermost toe lands below that line, the track was likely made by a black bear. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 7 Feb. 2024 Size An adult male black bear stands 5-6 feet tall and can sometimes top 600 pounds. Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 29 Nov. 2023 In the video, first shared on TikTok, a group is shown hanging outside of their cabin when a black bear approaches. Malaika Jabali, Essence, 6 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black bear.' 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

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black bear was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near black bear

Cite this Entry

“Black bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20bear. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

black bear

noun
: the common usually black-furred bear found in North American forests

More from Merriam-Webster on black bear

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