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

Examples of brown bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Set in the majestic French Pyrenees, the film addresses the battle between heritage and modernity as the reintroduction of brown bears collides head first with a traditional shepherding community. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024

The best time to see brown bears in south-central Alaska is from June to early September, with each month offering unique bear activity. —Stephanie Vermillion, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2024

In addition to the live cameras, Katmai has become a bucket list tourist destination and viewing stands have been built on the river to allow people to watch the brown bears fish for salmon. —CBS News, 9 Oct. 2024

Otis has become the face of Fat Bear Week, an annual online bracket-style competition that celebrates the heft of the brown bears at Katmai’s Brooks Falls. —Erin Donaghue, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

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