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.
An adult black bear can weigh between 150 and 700 pounds. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 If a black bear makes contact with you, do NOT play dead; fight back aggressively. — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 22 June 2026 In 2023, a Downieville woman was attacked and killed in her home by a black bear, state and local officials said. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 This enables researchers to track spatial and temporal trends for many Wisconsin species, such as black bears, bobcats, coyotes, opossum and raccoons. — Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 July 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 7 Jul. 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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