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.
While black bears are known to inhabit nearly every town in Connecticut, they are concentrated more heavily in the western half of the state, and both DEEP and the research team have focused their efforts on studying that population of bears. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026 According to The Black Bear In Modern North America (1977), there were 15 to 25 black bears in Mississippi in 1977. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 California’s black bear population has remained stable over the past decade and is estimated at 49,000 to 71,000 animals, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Cat stands down bear in viral video A TikTok video shared by @statbeauty_michelle going viral online shows a regular cat standing down a black bear. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 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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