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
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Better still are the mountain views that surround the lake and the robust collection of wildlife that call this place home, from voles, shrews, and marmots to elk, black bears, and porcupines. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026 An otter bobs in the inlet, an eagle glides across the sky, and a black bear ambles amidst old-growth forest on the distant shores. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Wildlife officials found and killed 14 black bears last week on a property in Montana. — N. Kirkpatrick, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026 That’s how the park deals with black bears deemed a threat to tourists. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026 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

Rhymes for black bear

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Browse Nearby Words

black bean
black bear
black bearberry
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Cite this Entry

“Black bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20bear. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

black bear

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

More from Merriam-Webster on black bear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about black bear

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