brown bear

noun

: any of several chiefly brown bears that are usually considered a single species (Ursus arctos), that formerly inhabited western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico and much of Europe and Asia but are now much restricted in range, and that include the grizzly bear and Kodiak bear

Illustration of brown bear

Illustration of brown bear

Examples of brown bear in a Sentence

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In April, two soldiers from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, were injured in a brown bear attack during a training session. — Stephen Smith, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 The woman, who was running by herself at Prospect Heights’ Wolverine Bowl trail, was able to get away from the brown bear by using her bear spray, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Livestream cameras at Alaska’s Katmai National Park recently spotted the distinctive brown bear cub (Ursus arctos) sitting in the grass (and giving a little yawn), according to Popular Science. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026 Every year in late June, brown bears return to Brooks Falls for the salmon migration. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brown bear

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brown bear was in 1757

Rhymes for brown bear

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Browse Nearby Words

brown bay
brown bear
brown bee
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Cite this Entry

“Brown bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown%20bear. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

brown bear

noun
: any of several bears that are mostly brown in color, are usually lumped together in a single species including the grizzly bear, and at one time inhabited much of North America from Alaska to northern Mexico as well as Europe and Asia

More from Merriam-Webster on brown bear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brown bear

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