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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Orange City, about a 30-mile drive north from Orlando, is in a part of the state with a heavy density of black bears, FWC reports. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025 About 40% of the state's black bears live in the Sierra Nevada, according to the fish and wildlife department. Damon Arthur, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024 In a break from tradition, the poster for the 2025 Berlinale will not feature Berlin’s cuddly mascot, the black bear. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2024 The black bear’s behavioral profile in the area—ranging from high jinks to a gruesome first, for California—turned out to be symptoms of a problem with humans. Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for black bear 

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 18 Jan. 2025.

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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