ursine

adjective

ur·​sine ˈər-ˌsīn How to pronounce ursine (audio)
1
: of or relating to a bear or the bear family (Ursidae)
2
: suggesting or characteristic of a bear
a lumbering ursine gait

Examples of ursine 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.
Wildlife photographer Robert Martinez shared a video this week of one of our ursine neighbors taking a dip into cool water deep in Angeles National Forest. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Human employees would fill new containers with fish, peanut butter, honey, and dog biscuits, snap the locks shut, and deliver them to their ursine colleagues for compliance testing. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026 The hosts debate whether sports teams could learn from its success, and toss out an idea for the Chicago Bears to capitalize on all the ursine love. — Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2026 The annual celebration of ursine corpulence known as Fat Bear Week has officially begun. — Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ursine

Word History

Etymology

Latin ursinus, from ursus bear — more at arctic

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ursine was circa 1550

Rhymes for ursine

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Browse Nearby Words

ursigram
ursine
ursine baboon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ursine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ursine. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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