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.
Debate over drilling in the refuge -- home to polar bears, musk ox, birds and other wildlife -- has long been a flashpoint. Arkansas Online, 2 June 2025 In early November, the Arctic tour will explore the Canadian north, where the shrinking ice cover is pushing polar bears toward extinction. Eduardo Garcia, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2025 The man then hops onto a snow mobile and zooms away as the polar bear continues to chase him before eventually giving up and sitting down. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 In the months leading up to Keller’s lawsuit, the judge had made national news with her rulings against President George W. Bush’s environmental policies, specifically as to whether polar bears deserved to be on the endangered species list. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 4 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Polar bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polar%20bear. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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
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