gray wolf

American  

noun

1. a wolf, Canis lupus, having a usually grizzled, blackish, or whitish coat: formerly common in Eurasia and North America, some subspecies are now reduced in numbers or near extinction.

---

Etymology

Origin of gray wolf

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

Compare meaning

How does gray-wolf compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• timber wolf vs. gray wolf

Example Sentences

To investigate these questions, Bailey is analyzing gray wolf teeth from museum collections and recently deceased animals using stable-isotope techniques.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

“The dire wolf genome likely differs from that of the gray wolf in millions or tens of millions of ways,” Knoepfler says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2025

Named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, these wolves, Colossal says, were created by making 20 edits on 14 gray wolf genes.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2025

Roell said the DNR received genetic test results from two laboratories late last week confirming that it was a gray wolf and the agency seized the carcass from the taxidermist earlier this week.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 5, 2024

It lodged in the flank of a gray wolf scarcely twenty feet away.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo