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.
And then there were polar bears again, this time resting quietly in the hills. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Amazing photographs including a polar bear peering down a hole in an ice sheet are among the 100 images shortlisted for the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 While transporting large mammals like whales, dolphins and polar bears by plane isn’t unheard of — SeaWorld has been doing it for decades, says Eric Otjen, vice president of zoological operations at the San Diego park. — Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 This is good old Mother Earth, and the Inuit people have thrived here for a few thousand years, living cheek to jowl with muskox, polar bears, caribou, tundra grizzlies, red fox, Arctic fox and hordes of ducks and geese. — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for polar bear

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Browse Nearby Words

polar bands
polar bear
polar body
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Cite this Entry

“Polar bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polar%20bear. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

polar bear

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

More from Merriam-Webster on polar bear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polar bear

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