polar bear

American  

noun

• polar bears
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• polar bears
  plural

Etymology

Origin of polar bear

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

polar bear

Her social media feed piled up with video after video of polar bear rescues, such as fishermen or scientists hauling a freezing, struggling baby polar bear onto a ship.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 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

Except for the roaring polar bear emblem - a symbol of Greenland, etched onto every sliding glass doors we pass.

From BBC ● Jan. 10, 2026

“My dad told me he saw a polar bear eat the cushions off a sofa once.”

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz