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.
Blomdahl, who photographed all of the images herself, even caught one of a polar bear near her home — taken from a noticeable distance away, for safety reasons. Yahya Salem, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024 This group of polar bears, like others, is spending more time on land each summer, because Arctic sea ice is melting earlier in the spring and forming later come fall. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024 Exploring a remote Arctic research settlement with guards armed for unexpected—yet possible—polar bear encounters, cruising past towering glaciers, and hiking remote mountain trails are typically the domain of small expedition cruises. David Nikel, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024 But first: Why were those polar bears on the Island anyway? Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 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 Nov. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!