bighorn sheep

noun

big·​horn sheep ˈbig-ˌhȯrn- How to pronounce bighorn sheep (audio)
variants or less commonly bighorn
plural bighorn sheep also bighorns or bighorn
: a usually grayish-brown wild sheep (Ovis canadensis) of mountainous and desert regions of western North America

Note: The bighorn sheep has a white patch on the rump and, in the males, massive horns that curve up and back over the ears and then up and forward toward the cheeks.

Illustration of bighorn sheep

Illustration of bighorn sheep

Examples of bighorn sheep in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Winter is also a much less crowded time to visit and a great time to spot wildlife like wolves and bighorn sheep. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2024 The 90-minute Scenic Nature Cruise explores secluded inner waterways with frequent sightings of desert bighorn sheep, bald eagles and other wildlife. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024 Hunting for deer, elk, bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain lion, and wild turkey in the monument is managed by Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 3 Oct. 2024 An episode on Zion National Park showcases bighorn sheep, whose horns were traditionally used for bows and arrows. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bighorn sheep 

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bighorn sheep was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near bighorn sheep

Cite this Entry

“Bighorn sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bighorn%20sheep. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

bighorn sheep

noun
big·​horn sheep ˈbig-ˌhȯrn- How to pronounce bighorn sheep (audio)
: a usually grayish brown wild sheep of mountainous western North America

called also bighorn, Rocky Mountain sheep

More from Merriam-Webster on bighorn sheep

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