polar bear

American  

noun

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

---

polar bear British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of polar bear

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Thankfully that never happened thanks to the ship’s stabilizers, allowing me to traverse sea ice, view an unsuccessful polar bear hunt, and photograph wildlife from whales to walruses in comfort.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

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

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

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

When Rana’s curiosity leads her far from home, she must call on her memory of her mother’s stories and, with the help of an obliging polar bear, find her own way back.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

“Are you really worried about me leaving Churchill right now, when there’s a polar bear using our snowmobile as his own personal picnic basket?”

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz