polar bear

noun

: a large creamy-white carnivorous bear (Ursus maritimus synonym Thalarctos maritimus) that inhabits arctic regions

Illustration of polar bear

Illustration of polar bear

Examples of polar 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.
Guests old and young mingle admiring paintings and sculptures (especially the polar bears) and, in the nearby game room, try their hand at vintage arcade games like Ms Pac-Man and Galaga. Johanna Read, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 For instance, Pesto, the abnormally large king penguin living at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, or Fat Albert, the heaviest polar bear in Alaska.) Crumbs—called Kroshik in Russian—was then taken in by the Matroskin Shelter in Perm, where he was put on a strict diet and exercise regime. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024 The husband and wife had gone out to check on their dogs when a polar bear lunged at the woman. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 5 Dec. 2024 Between 1870 and 2014, 73 polar bear attacks on humans were reported, leading to 20 deaths. Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for polar bear 

Word History

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polar bear was in 1769

Dictionary Entries Near polar bear

Cite this Entry

“Polar bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polar%20bear. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

polar bear

noun
: a large creamy-white fish-eating bear that lives in arctic regions

More from Merriam-Webster on polar bear

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