woolly mammoth

noun

: a heavy-coated mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) formerly inhabiting the colder parts of the northern hemisphere

Illustration of woolly mammoth

Examples of woolly mammoth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Ice Age mammals, which should not be confused with the larger woolly mammoths, seemed to have an had an affinity for Orange County, where this one — and about a third of the state’s total — have been found. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2024

While the potential de-extinction of animals like the woolly mammoth or the Tasmanian tiger might be exciting in their own right, genetic studies still have a lot more to offer. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

This includes de-extinction startup Colossal, a company founded by Austin entrepreneur Ben Lamm that’s best known for its efforts to bring back the woolly mammoth. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Mar. 2024

Although both are elephant relatives, mastodons are distinct from woolly mammoths. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

woolly mammoth

noun

: an extinct mammal that was a heavy-coated mammoth of cold northern regions and is known from fossils, from the drawings of prehistoric human beings, and from entire dead frozen bodies dug up in Siberia