bison

American  

[bahy-suhn, -zuhn] / ˈbaɪ sən, -zən /

noun

plural

bison

1. Also called American bison, American buffalo.  a North American, oxlike ruminant, Bison bison, having a large head and high, humped shoulders: formerly common in North America, its small remaining population in isolated western areas of the U.S. and Canada is now protected.

2. Also called wisent.  a related animal, Bison bonasus, of Europe, less shaggy and slightly larger than the American bison: now greatly reduced in number.

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bison British  

/ ˈbaɪsən /

noun

1. Also called: American bison.   buffalo.  a member of the cattle tribe, Bison bison , formerly widely distributed over the prairies of W North America but now confined to reserves and parks, with a massive head, shaggy forequarters, and a humped back

2. Also called: wisent.   European bison.  a closely related and similar animal, Bison bonasus , formerly widespread in Europe

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Other Word Forms

• bisontine adjective

Etymology

Origin of bison

1350–1400; Middle English bisontes (plural) < Latin (nominative singular bisōn ) < Germanic; compare Old High German wisunt, Old English wesend, Old Norse visundr

Explanation

A bison is a large, shaggy, hoofed animal. Bison are mostly native to North America, though there is one species found in Western Europe and Central Asia. The most common type of bison is also called a buffalo, and it's the largest land animal in North America. Bison tend to travel in herds and periodically wallow in dirt to keep themselves cool and free of parasites, and while they're generally slow-moving, they can run as fast as 35 miles per hour when they want to. The word bison is Latin for "wild ox," ultimately from a Slavic or Baltic root meaning "the stinking animal."

Example Sentences

But before you go hustling this half-million-dollar bison through the cones at the school drop-off, be sure to warm up the tires.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

When the birds arrive in the dozens, that can make even a downed bison disappear quickly, Marzluff said.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Herds of elephants, bison, and aurochs roamed freely.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

Mr Moat said "nothing is working as it should" in the landscape, which has lost beavers and bison, herds of wild boar and big herbivores.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2025

There were milkshakes, lemonade, sweetgrass tea, NDN tacos, bison burgers, elk stew and cornbread, fries, veggie roast, edamame with wild rice, and so much more.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith