bison

noun

bi·​son ˈbī-sᵊn  -zᵊn 

plural bison

: any of several large living or extinct bovine mammals (genus Bison) that have a long, broad head, short, hollow horns, heavy forequarters, a large muscular hump across the shoulders, and a shaggy mane on the head and lower neck and that typically live and migrate in herds: such as

a

: american bison

b

: european bison

bisontine

ˈbī-sᵊn-ˌtīn 

-zᵊn-

adjective

Examples of bison in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

American Bison Stamp Honors National Mammal Another stamp debuting at the World Stamp Show on Monday, May 25, will honor the American bison, the nation’s official mammal. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

The menu also includes a bison rib-eye, a prime porterhouse and entrees such as lobster, sea bass, lamb chops and chicken Parmesan. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026

The plaza’s centerpiece will be three giant bison sculptures — a bull, cow and calf — surrounded by circular benches. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026

The menu includes aged barrel fruit with chiltepin, venison dumplings with amaranth, and bison with squash sashimi. —John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin bisont-, bison, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wisant aurochs; akin to Old Prussian wissambrs aurochs

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bison

• American bison
• European bison
• plains bison
• wood bison

Rhymes for bison

• seisin
• actinomycin
• adriamycin
• aureomycin
• azithromycin
• clarithromycin
• erythromycin
• bleomycin
• clindamycin
• kanamycin
• lincomycin
• mitomycin

Kids Definition

bison

noun

bi·​son ˈbīs-ᵊn  ˈbīz- 

plural bison

: any of several large shaggy-maned mammals related to the ox with a large head, short horns, and a large fleshy hump above the shoulders

especially : buffalo sense c