polar bear

American  

noun

1. a large white bear, Ursus maritimus, of the Arctic regions.

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polar bear British  

noun

1. a white carnivorous bear, Thalarctos maritimus, of coastal regions of the North Pole

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Etymology

Origin of polar bear

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

A mother polar bear and her three cubs pause after a long journey along the Hudson Bay coast.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

In his office, where his mayor's chain is displayed alongside a polar bear femur, Terje Aunevik echoed that sentiment.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

A polar bear suffers through an existential crisis of faith after realizing that he prefers Pepsi Max to Coke Zero.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2026

Soon he is inviting the polar bear to come for a ride.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

Then, because he was a polar bear of a curious nature, he moved over to where the owl was, despite the great sadness he still felt.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el